Reporters got a sneak peak today at a model condo at the Tour des Canadiens condo complex, the 175-million dollar building that is going up right beside the Bell Centre on Centennial Plaza.

Promoters say since the Habs condo project was announced a few months ago, several thousand people have signed up on their website to find out more it and several units which were reserved for season ticket holders have already been bought.

"We have never seen an interest like this,' claims Daniel Peritz, senior vice-president of Canderel. 

The starting price of the condos is $250 000 and can reach as a high as 1.7 million dollars.

But with the sales office set to open soon in the midst of an NHL lockout, will interest start to dwindle? Peritz doesn't think so.

"No, this project is stronger than just this lockout, so we don't have any concerns about it hurting sales."

The condos range from 500 to 23-hundred square feet.

Meanwhile, Habs management says it is close to announcing where the new Centennial Plaza will be, as it will have to move when construction begins next summer. The plaza currently holds thousands of engraved bricks purchased by fans and several statues of Habs' greats. 

Kevin Gilmore, chief operating officer of the Canadiens' hockey club, says they are finalizing the details and hopes to be able to inform fans about it soon.

"We just want to be sure with absolute certainty that this will be the new location when we announce it, and unlike the current plaza, the new one will be a permanent location."

He also assures it will be "somewhere on the Bell Centre property." 

video by Laura Casella