Predators might be on the move

docmercer · May 24, 2007

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Nashville's professional hockey team will have a new owner.

Craig Leipold, owner of the Nashville Predators, reached an agreement with Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie to buy the team for $220 million. Balsillie is co-CEO of Research In Motion, which makes the BlackBerry e-mail device.

Last year, Balsillie tried to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Leipold met with the NHL Board of Governors Wednesday afternoon in New York about the impending sale before he met with his team employees.

Leipold told the team's front office personnel that the team will remain in Nashville for at least the next season, but made no promises for the future.

VC2 · May 25, 2007

apparently they have to stay there for 7 years before they can relocate

MSUSpartans · May 26, 2007

VC2 said:
apparently they have to stay there for 7 years before they can relocate

not necessarily true:

Details on the Preds lease agreement:

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl_network/news_story/?ID=208704&hubname=nhl_network

The Hockey News
5/23/2007 11:55:32 PM
According to the Predators lease agreement with the Sommet Center in Nashville, the team has until the middle of this June to exercise a clause in the agreement that would allow the owner to move the team if the Predators don't average at least 14,000 in paid attendance next season.
The Predators were 25th in the NHL with an average attendance of 14,428, but that was total attendance including all free tickets. Their paid attendance was somewhere closer to 12,000 and the team has had a terrible time getting the Nashville corporate community to support the team.
There are several caveats to the deal, however. First, even if the Predators average fewer than 14,000 paid – which would also seriously cut into their take in revenue sharing – whoever owns the team would have to pay the city $18 million to move the team. The city also has an option in the deal to make up any shortfall in revenues that would result in fewer than 14,000 paid and if it did that, it would force the Predators to stay in Nashville.
No matter what the lease agreement is, the Predators have long been seen as a vulnerable franchise, one that is a prime candidate to be moved. Despite that, and yearly losses for the team, owner Craig Leipold is expected to recoup all his losses by selling the team.

docmercer · May 26, 2007

VC2 said:
apparently they have to stay there for 7 years before they can relocate

The new owner has made it very clear whatever franchise he buys, he wants to move to Canada. Can't see him waiting 7 years for this.

SportSavant · May 26, 2007

with the Canadian dollar almost on par with the USD now, It is more likely we can see teams come back to Canada.

Nashville to Southern Ontario

we also need teams in Quebec City and Winnipeg.

docmercer · May 26, 2007

SportSavant said:
with the Canadian dollar almost on par with the USD now, It is more likely we can see teams come back to Canada.

Nashville to Southern Ontario

we also need teams in Quebec City and Winnipeg.

Winnipeg maybe - but I don't think you'll ever see one in Quebec City again. I don't know the details up there - but from what I understand, its an absolute tax and union nightmare dealing with that province.

Milwaukee and Portland are both great markets who have supported pucks in the past.

Unlike cities like Atlanta (who is also rumored to be ripe for a move) - you won't see a team in Milwaukee where 10 years after getting a pro team they still announce offside and icing over the PA and offer explanations of what each penalty is in the form of instructional videos on the scoreboard.

SportSavant · May 26, 2007

yes it is, I live in Quebec

PassTheBuck · May 26, 2007

Winnipeg is a no go. They couldn't support an NHL team that had a payroll of around 18-20 million, so there's no reason to think they can support a team with a min payroll of around 30-35 million (remember min payroll rules in NHL). Also, they would need a new rink, and that's not going to happen considering they just built a rink recently.

Put a team in Southern Ontario, that's the smart thing to do. It's a freaking hockey hotbed. That's why places like New York have two MLB teams... if only the NHL could figure this out.

Also, I think hockey can survive in Atlanta. Although attendance hasn't been the greatest, the support looks to be there. The team should be good for a number of years, and unlike Nashville, there is a bit more corporate support. The jury's still out... but i wouldn't pull the plug yet.

docmercer · May 26, 2007

PassTheBuck said:
Also, I think hockey can survive in Atlanta. Although attendance hasn't been the greatest, the support looks to be there. .

What do you base this feeling of support on? 21st in 2006 and 23rd in 2005 in attendance. TV ratings on Turner and Fox South have been non existant.

Corporate support exists in the form of tickets which, while sold - show up as empty seats more nights than not.

I enjoyed attending a game last year in Atlanta - but there is next to none that follows the Thrash outside of those who go to the games.

PassTheBuck · May 27, 2007

ktvvegas said:
What do you base this feeling of support on? 21st in 2006 and 23rd in 2005 in attendance. TV ratings on Turner and Fox South have been non existant.

Corporate support exists in the form of tickets which, while sold - show up as empty seats more nights than not.

I enjoyed attending a game last year in Atlanta - but there is next to none that follows the Thrash outside of those who go to the games.

Well, I'll start by saying that I'm by no means certain hockey can survive, but this was more of a personal opinion loosely based on a few facts and testimonials. I would look at Atlanta's attendance numbers over the last month of the season, where they had a very good average.

Second, while I don't have the numbers, I would look at the growth of minor league hockey in the Atlanta area. The sport has grown quite a bit. The Georgia market is a tough nut to crack, but these things take time. Nobody is saying hockey will be bigger than College Football, but it has a shot to compete. If the NHL is going to pull the plug on another southern franchise, they best look at Florida first.

I guess I don't want the NHL to plug the plug entirely on the South. I mean, look at Tampa Bay's success story. Hockey can survive with proper marketing and a bit of luck.

Zeppelin · May 28, 2007

It will be Toronto or surrounding area....you'll see :thumbsup: :nosepicki :Guitarman :grandmais

docmercer · May 28, 2007

Toronto went to the mat to squash Hamiltons bid years ago. Not sure how far their "area" goes, but the dude from Blackberry has mentioned Southern Ontario before as well.

FairWarning · May 28, 2007

ktvvegas said:
Winnipeg maybe - but I don't think you'll ever see one in Quebec City again. I don't know the details up there - but from what I understand, its an absolute tax and union nightmare dealing with that province.

Milwaukee and Portland are both great markets who have supported pucks in the past.

Unlike cities like Atlanta (who is also rumored to be ripe for a move) - you won't see a team in Milwaukee where 10 years after getting a pro team they still announce offside and icing over the PA and offer explanations of what each penalty is in the form of instructional videos on the scoreboard.

Bill Wirtz will never allow a team in Milwaukee (only 90 minutes away). I think Vegas, Portland, KC, or Seattle in the US are deserving. Don't know enough about Canadian politics, but would like to see another team in Canada.

PassTheBuck · May 28, 2007

ktvvegas said:
Toronto went to the mat to squash Hamiltons bid years ago. Not sure how far their "area" goes, but the dude from Blackberry has mentioned Southern Ontario before as well.

The property purchased by the new Preds owner is just outside the Leafs' "area", so they have no grounds for a beef.

There is no way another team in Southern Ontario hurts the Leafs' attendence numbers.

SportSavant · Jun 1, 2007

the guy who bought the thrashers has just secured an exclusive deal with hamilton to bring a team to Copps Coleseam in Hamilton.

docmercer · Jun 1, 2007

PassTheBuck said:
The property purchased by the new Preds owner is just outside the Leafs' "area", so they have no grounds for a beef.

There is no way another team in Southern Ontario hurts the Leafs' attendence numbers.

I don't think it's really ever been an issue of attendence per se (even though they say it is). I don't know the demographics up there very well, but my understanding is that the gold for the leafs revenue comes in the form of TV revenues. A team in Hamilton and somewhere else would certainly bite into that.

SportSavant · Jun 1, 2007

now that 1USD is equal to 1CDN, things are alot different

canabiz · Jun 1, 2007

FairWarning said:
Bill Wirtz will never allow a team in Milwaukee (only 90 minutes away). I think Vegas, Portland, KC, or Seattle in the US are deserving. Don't know enough about Canadian politics, but would like to see another team in Canada.

Don't think Vegas will have pro sports franchise for the next little while and the first one would probably be an NBA team

KC is Chiefs country and Royals in the summer time

Seattle is too close to Vancouver and already has 3 other pro sports franchises (Sonics, Seahawks, Mariners)