The Clock is Ticking on Hockey in Tennesee
Calling Nashville a town that "wouldn't know Peter Forsberg from Peter Rabbit" wasn't very nice. So it's no surprise that several readers objected. But by taking it as a swipe at local fans, they missed the point. For all we know, Predators fans might be the smartest and most dedicated in all of hockey. There simply aren't enough of them.
Which is why the Predators have been sold. The new owner will be the Blackberry guy, Jim Balsillie. He's from Ontario, and the assumption is that he'll be taking the team north at the first opportunity. The situation is neatly summed up by the reaction of one fan who spoke to Tennessean.com:
The Predators have the city over a barrel, thanks to a very attractive franchise agreement:"Devastation. Absolutely. I'm a season ticket-holder. Die-hard fan. ... I'm in shock," said (Patty) Cavanah, who has been a season-ticket-holder since the second year. "The guy who supposedly is buying them is a billionaire who has tried to buy other NHL franchises and move them to Canada."
"If that happens, I blame the current administration of the city. I blame the local media for non-positive support. And I blame corporate for non-support."
The Preds averaged 13,815 in paid attendance last season, below the 14,000 benchmark.
If paid attendance does not average 14,000 next season, the team could pay an exit fee of approximately $18 million and leave Nashville. The money is to help cover the expenses the city paid to bring the team to Nashville.
However, Metro could pay the difference between revenue from the actual paid attendance and 14,000 to hold the team to the lease.
Looks like a no-lose situation for Jim Balsillie and a precarious situation for the small but hearty band known as the Predators faithful. Expect plenty of Nashville bashing on the hockey blogosphere today.
Update: From one of the game's sharpest observers, Eric Duhatschek at Globeandmail.com:
...two years into the current CBA, franchises in Phoenix and Atlanta and Florida as well as Nashville still can't operate in the black, or even at the break-even point. And when the day comes that the owners in all those markets say 'enough' to the losses, that's when the migration to points north will occur. It's no longer a question of if anymore. It's only a question of when.
Update II: It so happens that Balsillie's firm, Research in Motion, recently purchased a big slab of real estate in Cambridge, Ontario, just west of Toronto. Thanks to James Mirtle for the link.
Comments
Hell yeah. bring the Preds north where they will be appreciated.
First off, the Preds are plenty appreciated in Nashville. The team’s fans are as proud and vocal as any Canadians.
Second, it’s not a question of there not being enough fans in Nashville. It’s that there’s a marked lack of local corporate support. Had the Preds moved past the first round just once in the last three seasons, the corporations would have jumped on board pretty quickly. Everyone loves a winner. Going deeper in the playofs also would’ve meant more revenue for Leipold, and less chance of a sale. The situation’s much more complex than I’ve seen anyone give credit for so far.
I’ll be horribly disappointed if the Preds move. We’ve got a great core, and personally, I’ve never loved a sports team the way I love my Preds.
Fair enough, Jason. But in most cities you can’t draw a clear line between grass-roots fan support and corporate support. One follows from the other.
If the Predators were a hot ticket, generating lots of buzz, the corporate community would jump aboard because it wants to be associated with a popular team. A lack of corporate support says a lot about where the Predators stand in terms of local sports.
What the team needs is time for a couple of generations of fans to grow up with the game. Unfortunately, it’s starting to look like Nashville won’t get that chance.