We thought he was going to run for mayor of Montreal; he was eventually named an investor on the show In the eye of the dragon.
I took a few minutes this morning to chat with Luc Poirier about his new challenge, but also about professional sport, real estate and charitable gestures. Enjoy !
Yes, Luc Poirier seriously considered running for mayor, but according to him it was not the right timing.
“At the beginning, I would tell you, I had a lot of companies who told me to register as a candidate for mayor, a year and a half, two years ago. Then for six, eight months, there are many citizens of Montreal, but also elsewhere who are tired of returning to Montreal and seeing orange cones everywhere, crime, homeless people. […] many saw me as a solution. » – Luc Poirier
Except that Luc didn’t think he could show up since he doesn’t live in Montreal. However, a month ago, a journalist from La Presse found an article of law proving that he did not need to sleep in Montreal seven nights a week. Have an address, rent a type apartment foot to land/residence secondarywould have been enough. Except that the timing was not good.
“I decided to focus on my teenagers and my family, even if it tempts me. But I’m not saying no. If, unfortunately, Valérie Plante wins again – I really don’t hope so for the good of Montreal – but we will look at that in four, four and a half years. » – Luc Poirier
The timing of the Dragons season 14 – after raising its hand in season 2 – was presumably better.
Luc Poirier, owner of sports team(s)?
About seven years ago, Luc Poirier made an offer to try to get his hands on a big NHL team. His offer? US$800 million.
It almost happened, but it didn’t work.
Today, this team is worth double or close to it, according to Poirier.
Seven years ago, it was the time of the Golden Knights, the Kraken… but also the sale of the Hurricanes and the Islanders. Who knows which team was on the offer to purchase Luc Poirier…
“The value of teams is increasing a lot and quickly because there are more and more billionaires buying teams for fun, to say they have a team. » – Luc Poirier
Poirier also tried to buy the Coyotes in 2017 – the price was only $380 million – but Bill Daly demanded that you keep the franchise in Arizona. Luc wanted to move the team to Quebec, which the NHL (really) didn’t want. Even if the organization lost $30 million per year…
“For a market like Quebec, it’s impossible to make money with a concession worth more than a billion US dollars. You have to be there at the start… and that’s why government support is needed. I don’t see how the Nordics could come back without government help. » – Luc Poirier
Since the current situation is not conducive to government investment in professional sport, we should not dream of Quebec. But unfortunately you already know that…
“The National League wanted nothing to do with moving to Quebec. » – Luc Poirier
I asked Luc if he was for or against public investment in professional sport. It must be à la carte, according to him.
For the government to agree to give money to a sporting event or organization, it takes two things according to him:
1. We must be able to confirm that the event (Grand Prix, Presidents Cup, etc.) brings money from elsewhere in our community.
2. It makes sense to support new initiatives that are in their early start-up stages. It’s like with a child, once the new organization is stable and making money, you have to stop supporting it.
“Supporting the Canadian, who must make $200 million in profits per year, it would be illogical to support them. Same thing with tennis. » – Luc Poirier
Real estate and professional sports together
Luc Poirier is a real estate tycoon. Now, almost all new stadiums in North America have real estate next to them, especially when the projects are 100% privates Real estate helps enormously to subsidize projects and make the project profitable.
“Before, arenas were far from downtown and now, we want them downtown. Near companies and season subscribers. Look at Ottawa. There will be real estate around the new downtown arena. » – Luc Poirier
I asked Luc if he regretted – or would return – to Occupation Double. He doesn’t regret it, but he wouldn’t go back there today. Besides, he always watched the first episode of each season out of curiosity, but he didn’t do it this year.
So he probably doesn’t know Catherine F…
Finally, I asked Luc to tell me about his involvement in the community. Luc helps her Bruny Surin Foundation and the Fondation Christian Vachonbut it does even more.
“When I was young, I needed Christmas baskets. So today, I am participating in this initiative, but from the other side. The more you give back to the community, the more the community gives back to you. I do the Media Guignolée on the South Shore, the Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie, the tour of Quebec by bike, the crossing of Canada by bike, I am honorary president in lots of evenings and I am on several CAs I dedicate about 35 to 36 days of my time getting physically involved in events and foundations to raise money. » – Luc Poirier
(Credit: Annie Paquin photographer)
When we know that Luc spends around $1 million per week, we understand that devoting 35 or 36 days of your year to helping others is equivalent to giving a lot of money back to the community.
Too bad his plans to bring the Nordiques back to Quebec didn’t work. We would have had an involved, motivated and dedicated owner!
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