MUMBAI: Benoît Robert, president and CEO of Quebecor's Sports & Entertainment Group, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with AEG Facilities, the world leader in venue operations, in which the international sports, entertainment and venue management organisation will provide comprehensive venue operations and programming services for the Québec City Arena.

This partnership immediately places the Québec City Arena in the world's most elite arena network, spanning five continents, and includes industry-leading venues including the The O2 (London, England), STAPLES Center (Los Angeles), Mercedes-Benz Arena (Shanghai, China),  and Bercy Arena (Paris, France).

As part of an eight-year agreement, AEG Facilities will provide venue  services, including event programming, purchasing, vendor management services and event-day operations to the arena, while AEG Live, AEG's live-entertainment division, will also support Sports & Entertainment Group on booking opportunities to events, shows and tours for the 20,000-seat sports and entertainment arena set to open in September 2015.

"Working with a firm such as AEG Facilities on the programming, promotion and management of the Québec City Arena means having the support of nothing less than the best in the industry," said Benoît Robert. "This is a big-league partnership which places the Québec City Arena in the company of the world's most prestigious sports and performance venues, something of which we are immensely proud! This partnership follows through on the promise we made to Quebecers: to do everything in our power to make the Québec City Arena a world-class destination."

"We are very pleased for AEG Facilities to be associated with Quebecor's Sports & Entertainment Group in the promotion and operational management of the Québec City Arena, which will set the highest standards for design, technology and guest comfort for all future arenas in the world," said Bob Newman, president of AEG Facilities. "We are excited for the opportunity to work with Sports & Entertainment Group and the entire greater Quebec community to make the Québec City Arena the region's must-play arena and look forward to great success in the days and years ahead."

Sports & Entertainment Group had retained the consulting services of AEG Facilities in the preliminary phases of the project. The new agreement builds on the solid business relationship between the two partners. It covers marketing, maintenance, security and backstage technical services for road crews. Due to AEG Facilities expertise, Sports & Entertainment Group will be able to train and manage hundreds of Quebecers in the specialised practices developed by AEG Facilities, which are responsible for the success of some of the best-known international venues across the globe.