Are the Preds done in Nashville?

[mac_82]

Will the Predators be the first Bettman era expansion team to pack up and move?

What happens when 2 of the top teams in the West play (Anahiem and Nashville) and only 11 000 people come to watch?

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/allan_muir/01/15/predators.woes/index.html

They can break their lease in 2008 in Nashville if they don't get enough attendance...

[adam c]

and they want to move pittsburgh to kansas city.. wow good fucking idea

keep the game where the game is watched

[Sharpie]

we'll take them...

[5hift]

Originally posted by adam c
and they want to move pittsburgh to kansas city.. wow good fucking idea

keep the game where the game is watched

Kansas City is the best market right now for a professional team looking for a new home. The have a brand new area waiting to be used, and are offering the Pens free lease. Pittsburgh cant even offer them help to build a stadium.

[Ajay]

If Nashville does move I see them moving to a city like Portland. They actually have a fan base that would support a National Hockey League team.

Or send them to Winnipeg :thumbsup:

[mac_82]

All this suggests that local businesses aren't turning their backs on the Preds simply because of a lack of a recognizable face glad-handing them in the owner's box. The reality is that Nashville is what euphemistically is referred to as a "non-traditional market," which means the majority of those in the city either don't know about hockey or aren't inclined to care. That includes those with the means to make an impact on the ticket situation.

According to a story last week in the Nashville City Paper, the Predators recently approached 250 of the top local companies about getting involved. Less than one-third of those companies allowed the team 30 minutes to make a sales presentation. A total of 10 -- yes, 10 -- of the town's top 250 companies actually agreed to purchase ticket packages.

[hjr]

ouch. sucks when a team cant survive in their market (calgary and edmonton went through this), but maybe its for the better. there are not too many reasons to have a hockey team in the american south

[ZedMan]

The thing is, when calgary and edmonton went through this, the teams were crap. It's pretty sad that such a good franchise is getting so little support.

[buh_buh]

Originally posted by 5hift


Kansas City is the best market right now for a professional team looking for a new home. The have a brand new area waiting to be used, and are offering the Pens free lease. Pittsburgh cant even offer them help to build a stadium. Mellon Arena also offered a free lease to the Pens to stay in Pittsburgh, so it looks like they'll actually be staying.

[l8braker]

Mark Cuban was interviewed by CBC last week on HNIC and he is itching to get his hands on an NHL franchise as is Jerry Buckheimer. KC wants one NEXT SEASON, Vegas, Houston, Seattle & Portland all would like teams as well.

The Preds are such an incredible team, it is really a shame more Tennesseans don't support them.

[buh_buh]

Mark Cuban was said to be in the running for buying the Penguins before Balsillie came in and offered his $175M. I think he also said in his blog or something that he attended a few Pittsburgh games, and was looking to invest in the team. Personally, I think an owner like Cuban would be huge for the sport. Not only would it create some attention for the league, but he's a very good businessman who can help steer the team and the league in a new direction (that's not south).

[mac_82]

Originally posted by l8braker
The Preds are such an incredible team, it is really a shame more Tennesseans don't support them.


A Preds official was quoted in The Tennessean as saying that the team currently had a ticket base of 65 percent individual buyers and 35 percent corporate, and that they needed to flip those numbers around to be successful in the long term.

Nashville fans are actually supposed to be pretty hardcore. It is the corporate support that is lacking. When your lower bowl seats and luxury suites are sitting empty, that is when the problems start. :dunno: