The Oilers organization is denying reports that they met with Quebec City Mayor Regis Labeaume Wednesday to discuss a possible relocation.
Quebecor Media (QMI) quoted sources saying relocation was on the Wednesday's agenda.
But the Oilers organization rejects that claim.
"The press can be pretty creative…do you need more than that?" said Oilers CEO and President Patrick LaForge.
LaForge said they had coffee with officials from Quebec and discussed funding models. LaForge dismissed the idea the two groups may form a coalition to pressure the federal government for new arena money.
"We're both building facilities and we're both trying to get them off the ground and we have a hockey team and perhaps they don't here, but there is no reason for that to be drawn together….and we are not planning to move the Oilers at this time," said LaForge.
LaForge explained the organization has spent time in several U.S. cities studying funding models.
"We already have a team and we are having trouble getting our funding," he said.
Quebec City already has the provincial government's support to build a projected $400-million arena. It would mark the first step to bring an NHL hockey team back to the city after the Nordiques moved to Denver in 1995.
Mayor Stephen Mandel said he isn't worried after hearing Oilers executives met with the mayor of Quebec City.
"The Oilers are a big part of the city and city council will make a decision one way or another," he said.
The city also asked Edmontonians to take part in an online survey about the proposed project.
The survey asked participants if the proposed arena should be built in our city and whether people who would use it should pay a ticket surcharge to help foot the bill to build it. Another question posed in the questionnaire asked if Northlands should be involved in a new arena.
This past summer, Daryl Katz made a $1 million guarantee to bring the NHL to Hamilton, which also fuelled talks of potentially moving the Oilers to that city.
Following that, the Katz Group released a statement stating there were no plans to move the Oilers to Hamilton.
The city has reported the information gathered from the open houses will be part of a report, which will be presented to city council in mid-January.
LaForge said the lease at Rexall Place expires in 2014 and talks to extend that lease have not yet started. On December 10th, Northlands is scheduled to make a presentation to council.
The next meeting with the Katz Group will happen in January.
With files from Dez Melenka
