doox 15 Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=ap-p...p&type=lgnsIf there were any Preds fans here (or anywhere, for that matter) I'd give my sympathies, as I know how it sucks. Link to post Share on other sites
ajs510 122 Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 Hello Kansas City Predators...I feel for the hockey fans in Nashville, but the fact is that if the team isn't selling tickets, they're right to move somewhere that will support them. I don't see what else the team could have done to attract the attendance numbers they need to be profitable (or even break even), they brought the superstars, built a consistant winner, and still played to 3/4 full houses at best. I'd feel terrible if the Sabres moved out of town, but I wouldn't be blaming the ownership or management one bit, they have a business to run and you need customers to run a business. Link to post Share on other sites
runthemover 39 Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 To be fair to the fans there, they've never won a playoff series. I think the lockout probably hurt them a lot more than other teams. they made the playoffs for the first time right before the lockout so the buzz around the team was probably just starting. It's always a shame for a team to move but the way this season ended I can't imagine them lasting there.Like AJ said at the end of the day, no matter the reason they're not selling tickets, they're running a business Link to post Share on other sites
SBriand 4 Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 I hope they move. I hate watching games played in Nashville where the fans boo and hiss every single time one of their players falls down on the ice. Link to post Share on other sites
Fenxis 99 Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 Tough call.. they are averaging just under 14,000 tickets sold per game. Will be really, really interesting to see what happens with the Leafs "Nation" if there's a team in their backyard they can actually go see. Link to post Share on other sites
pezeveng 207 Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 it will become the tri-city preds Guelph-London-Kitchener. Those 3 can easily support a team. Link to post Share on other sites
chester97 0 Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 Hello Kansas City Predators...I feel for the hockey fans in Nashville, but the fact is that if the team isn't selling tickets, they're right to move somewhere that will support them. I don't see what else the team could have done to attract the attendance numbers they need to be profitable (or even break even), they brought the superstars, built a consistant winner, and still played to 3/4 full houses at best. I'd feel terrible if the Sabres moved out of town, but I wouldn't be blaming the ownership or management one bit, they have a business to run and you need customers to run a business.you mean the kitchener/waterloo blackberries. or just straight up balls. the KW balls. has a ring to it.i'd feel terrible personally if the sabres, or if the penguins had moved out of town. but for the preds, i think it needs to happen. if we can get the nashville's and florida's out of the league i think it'll be much better for it. nashville isn't a hockey market and this is squarely on bettman if it fails.that, and the fact that the flames absolutely can not win in that building. Link to post Share on other sites
nell789 0 Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 Winnipeg Predators!!!!!! Link to post Share on other sites
InsanityCubed 0 Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 Moving a team from the States to Canada will be the beginning of the end of the NHL as we know it. To all the Canadians who are clamoring for the Kitchener/Winnipeg Whatevers: please stop. I don't want the best hockey league in the world to be like the CFL. Link to post Share on other sites
ajs510 122 Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 Moving a team from the States to Canada will be the beginning of the end of the NHL as we know it. To all the Canadians who are clamoring for the Kitchener/Winnipeg Whatevers: please stop. I don't want the best hockey league in the world to be like the CFL.Mr. Bettman being a regular forum guest and all... Link to post Share on other sites
digitalmonkey 929 Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 Nashville averaged 1,000+ more fans per game than New Jersey. http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance They must give quite a few tickets away.New Jersey's salary was about $5 million more than Nashville's.http://www.nhlnumbers.com/nas.htmlAre the Devils moving too?http://www.newjerseydevils.com/2005/html/t...arena040705.phpJust throwing it out there... Link to post Share on other sites
nell789 0 Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 Nashville averaged 1,000+ more fans per game than New Jersey. http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance They must give quite a few tickets away.New Jersey's salary was about $5 million more than Nashville's.http://www.nhlnumbers.com/nas.htmlAre the Devils moving too?http://www.newjerseydevils.com/2005/html/t...arena040705.phpJust throwing it out there...Isn't it common knowledge that attendance, though lackluster, isn't the chief problem in Nashville? All I've been hearing about that situation over the last year or so has to do with corporate support, not necessarily fan support.It was the same problem that forced the Jets to leave town. Link to post Share on other sites
Fenxis 99 Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 Nashville averaged 1,000+ more fans per game than New Jersey. http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance They must give quite a few tickets away.They give away 10% of the arena capacity every game; that and they have some of the lowest prices in the NHL. Link to post Share on other sites
digitalmonkey 929 Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 Isn't it common knowledge that attendance, though lackluster, isn't the chief problem in Nashville? All I've been hearing about that situation over the last year or so has to do with corporate support, not necessarily fan support.It was the same problem that forced the Jets to leave town.Corporate sponsorship is a problem, but according to the owner...~excerpt from link in OP"Whether the Predators remain in Nashville past the 2007-08 season remains the biggest question still unanswered. Leipold has until June 19 to exercise a "cure" clause in the team's arena lease that would force the city to buy tickets and ensure attendance averages 14,000 next season. Leipold said he has not yet discussed with Balsillie whether to exercise that clause but will. Balsillie will have to sign a consent agreement with the NHL including a clause that prevents a new owner from relocating the team for seven years. But an arena lease would have to be in effect to force the new owner to follow that league requirement. Averaging 14,000 paid attendance in 2007-08 would keep the lease in effect. Leipold said fans easily could help keep the team in Nashville if they turn out for games, because the prospect of relocation is not good for hockey right now."What I get from all this is that Leipold claims he is losing millions so he wants to sell the team claiming he can't make it work in Nashville. Balsillie would have to sign an agreement with the NHL prohibiting him from moving the franchise for 7 years. All-Bran bars taste great. Link to post Share on other sites
InsanityCubed 0 Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 Nashville averaged 1,000+ more fans per game than New Jersey. http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance They must give quite a few tickets away.New Jersey's salary was about $5 million more than Nashville's.http://www.nhlnumbers.com/nas.htmlAre the Devils moving too?http://www.newjerseydevils.com/2005/html/t...arena040705.phpJust throwing it out there...It is possible, if the new arena doesn't pan out as planned. There are other candidates ahead of the Devils though, besides Nashville.The hope is that the new arena makes it easier for fans to attend, as the Meadowlands is hell to get to and park in. The Rock has available public transportation from New York, IIRC. I certainly don't want to see the Devils move, but I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't be excited at the prospect of them playing an hour and a half away from me.Nashville moving to Winnipeg/Hamilton wouldn't necessarily have a major impact, unless other teams start fleeing north of the border. If that were to happen the money that Canadian hockey fans are able to spend would quickly top out, and I think the result would be bad for the NHL, and hockey in general.Maybe I'm an idiot here, but I think it's a situation where most Canadians think Hockey + Canada = Good, but aren't realising that American teams, fans, and dollars are important. Link to post Share on other sites
nell789 0 Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 Maybe I'm an idiot here, but I think it's a situation where most Canadians think Hockey + Canada = Good, but aren't realising that American teams, fans, and dollars are important.NHL fans want an NHL team in their home town. Show me one NHL fan who does not. This includes fans that live in Canada. Are you saying that all canadian hockey fans outside the 6 current NHL Canadian markets aren't allowed to want their own NHL team because "American teams, fans, and dollars are important"?It's not about Canadians thinking that american teams should relocate to canada because "Hockey + Canada = Good", it's about people like me wanting to be able to attend NHL games on a regular basis, and cheer on my own city's team, just like any NHL fan anywhere in the world. Link to post Share on other sites
Fenxis 99 Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 Corporate sponsorship is a problem, but according to the owner...Fair enough.. the tech meltdown (and extension lack of corporate support) is what almost cost the Ottawa it's team back in '03.edit: and is probably the main reason why Winnipeg will sadly probably never get a team. Link to post Share on other sites
nell789 0 Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 Corporate sponsorship is a problem, but according to the owner...~excerpt from link in OP"Whether the Predators remain in Nashville past the 2007-08 season remains the biggest question still unanswered. Leipold has until June 19 to exercise a "cure" clause in the team's arena lease that would force the city to buy tickets and ensure attendance averages 14,000 next season. Leipold said he has not yet discussed with Balsillie whether to exercise that clause but will. Balsillie will have to sign a consent agreement with the NHL including a clause that prevents a new owner from relocating the team for seven years. But an arena lease would have to be in effect to force the new owner to follow that league requirement. Averaging 14,000 paid attendance in 2007-08 would keep the lease in effect. Leipold said fans easily could help keep the team in Nashville if they turn out for games, because the prospect of relocation is not good for hockey right now."What I get from all this is that Leipold claims he is losing millions so he wants to sell the team claiming he can't make it work in Nashville. Balsillie would have to sign an agreement with the NHL prohibiting him from moving the franchise for 7 years.hmm, that is a prickly one. I'm curious of the details of the "cure" clause.All-Bran bars taste great.Fallacy. Link to post Share on other sites
nell789 0 Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 Fair enough.. the tech meltdown (and extension lack of corporate support) is what almost cost the Ottawa it's team back in '03.edit: and is probably the main reason why Winnipeg will sadly probably never get a team.Currently there is a politician of a major party (forget most details) running for premier who promises to try to bring back a team to Manitoba with provincial, and public support (I think Edmonton has a similar setup) to boost the economy of Winnipeg.It's basically just a ploy to get votes from people who normally wouldn't give a ****. Link to post Share on other sites
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