QUEBEC CITY - Construction is scheduled to begin in a few months on a new amphitheatre for Quebec City.

The provincial capital and the provincial government have committed to a plan to build a publicly-financed $400 million arena, without any funding from the federal government or private partners.

Quebec City Mayor Regis Labeaume said the new arena, which was first proposed in October 2009, cannot wait any longer.

"The longer we wait, the more it will cost to construct," said Labeaume.

"The city of Quebec will finance construction costs of $187 million, and construction will begin in the next few months."

Premier Jean Charest confirmed that the province would pick up the rest of the costs.

The project has a proposed finish date of 2015.

Several weeks ago Quebecor CEO Pierre-Karl Peladeau announced that his company would be willing to spend several tens of millions of dollars to a replacement for the Pepsi Colisee, however no private partners were mentioned as part of Thursday's announcement.

Charest and Labeaume did say that if a private company or the federal government wanted to participate, then room would be made to accommodate them.


Fans eager for a team

In October 2009 Labeaume hired engineering firm SNC Lavalin to conduct a feasibility study for a new arena, and until this week had always hoped the federal government would pony up $175 million toward the cost.

At that time and ever since NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has said that if Quebec City had a new arena, it would become a strong contender for a professional hockey team.

The Nordiques left Quebec city in 1995 when the franchise moved to Colorado, but fans have been holding on to hope a team would return.

Several times over the past year they've held publicity stunts to show their love of hockey, including a swarm of thousands of blue-clad celebrants descending upon the Plains of Abraham, and in December more than 1,000 Quebecers travelled to an Islanders game.

Last year Ernst & Young completed a report indicating a new arena would likely generate $7.8 million a year in revenue, and that if an NHL team moves to Quebec, that figure could grow to $8.4 million.

Various critics, including Peladeau, have said that income is not enough to justify private investment.