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Post by Alex on Nov 7, 2007 15:03:27 GMT -5
I cannot believe it. They will never make money. Why are they doing this? For the sake of a few fans who can't even fill up their arena when it ounts? Boy oh boy this really ticks me off and makes no sense.  |
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Post by leer2006 on Nov 7, 2007 15:49:27 GMT -5
The league shoud pull the plug to show the rest of the sporting WORLD that this league isn't a joke.
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Post by Alex on Nov 7, 2007 20:02:18 GMT -5
Exactly. Right now, this league has to prove to me that I should like it. I don't "need" the NHL in my life. I become less interested in it every day.
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Post by leer2006 on Nov 7, 2007 20:05:47 GMT -5
Has the Nhl ever pulled a franchise??
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Post by scottie65 on Nov 7, 2007 21:15:24 GMT -5
A somewhat related story, although not Pred-specific: Wednesday, 11/07/07 Franklin ice rink may turn into ball courtsDirector says talk of sale premature By CHIP CIRILLO Staff Writer FRANKLIN — Middle Tennessee might lose one of its two ice rinks because Southern Ice Arena in Franklin is under contract to sell. The owner of the Cool Springs sports complex has entered into an agreement to sell the facility to a local group of investors, according to an e-mail sent to parents and players in an arena hockey league. Christy Elrod, the hockey registrar who sent the e-mail, said the investment group plans to convert the arena into a volleyball/basketball facility. Attempts to reach owner Scott Fish were unsuccessful. "Nothing has been closed," arena hockey director Ryan Lessnau said. "Nothing has been signed yet. There's just been talk with a local group of investors about putting basketball and volleyball here for kids." Lessnau said it is a different group of investors than the one that hopes to build a facility in Brentwood for basketball, volleyball and tennis. At Monday night's Brentwood Planning Commission, owner Mark Cleveland said he would retool plans to add an 84,000-square-foot complex to the Dolphin Club, a swim and tennis center. Cleveland could wind up with a bit of competition if the Southern Ice deal is sealed. He insists, though, that the idea for his property is different. "I think it just goes to prove the demand in the area for this type of facility," Cleveland said. Southern Ice management had to raise hockey fees during the last several years to keep the rink open. Although demand for ice time has steadily increased since the arena's 1999 opening, with the boom of youth, adult and high school ice hockey leagues, Elrod said the rink has never had a profitable year and more than $2 million has been put into the facility during the past three years to keep it open. New facility is the goal "We don't have enough ice, plain and simple, to accommodate everyone, not even close." Lessnau said. "The thing is, the majority of people want more ice, and we can't give it to them." Lessnau said the company that sold Southern Ice its equipment has closed. "Getting repairs and everything is just horrible, so we're pretty much looking for a new, efficient place to run," Lessnau said. "And we're looking to build and be ready for next season," he said, indicating that a new ice arena could be built at another location. Southern Ice and Centennial Sportsplex in Nashville are the only ice rinks in Middle Tennessee. Elrod said the uncertain status of the Nashville Predators ownership was a factor in the decision to sell the arena.The conversion process is scheduled to begin in February, but the arena hockey leagues will continue as planned. www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071107/COUNTY09/711070438/1001 |
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Post by shifty2007 on Nov 7, 2007 23:49:37 GMT -5
The city has to approve and the NHL has to approve. Hoping for a last minute thing like what happened with the Penguins. Still three more years and they could be gone. There won't be any lawyers arguing what years counted as below 13,000.
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Post by Nikolai on Nov 8, 2007 6:35:14 GMT -5
The owner of the Cool Springs sports complex has entered into an agreement to sell the facility to a local group of investors Looks like Boots and his boys finally found a hockey rink the right size for them to sell out every night!  |
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Post by scottie65 on Nov 8, 2007 9:45:48 GMT -5
^ ;D
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Post by scottie65 on Nov 10, 2007 18:21:36 GMT -5
Saturday, 11/10/07 Dean gives investors final offer on PredsSweetened lease hinges on team staying 5 yearsBy MICHAEL CASS Staff Writer Mayor Karl Dean made a final, take-it-or-leave-it offer to the Nashville Predators' potential new owners Friday, proposing a more generous arena lease in exchange for a commitment to stay in Nashville for five years. Under his deal, the Predators could still leave town in three years — after the 2009-10 season — if the investors were to lose $20 million in that time and paid attendance were to fall below 14,000 per game. If the team leaves before the five years are up, it would repay about $6.8 million a year that the city would provide in operating support and management fees to the team and the arena, which the Predators would manage. After almost six weeks of lease negotiations that have consumed his administration, Dean said it was time for the city to say what it can do and let the buyers accept it or move on. "I feel it is important for the stakeholders — including the current owners of the team, Nashville's hockey fans and all of our citizens — to know the details of what the city is willing and able to do to help move this transaction forward," Dean said in a written statement. "If the investors agree to these changes in the lease, the team will stay in Nashville for at least five years and if they are not able to do so, the additional investment made by the city will be returned." Chase Cole, an attorney for the investors, said through a spokesman that they would review the offer and "get back to the city." Cole said he received the offer late Friday afternoon. The investors, most of whom live in Middle Tennessee, want to buy the Predators from Craig Leipold for $193 million. But they say they first need to change the team's lease of the city's arena, the Sommet Center, to have a chance to make the Predators financially successful. They made a proposal to the city Sept. 29, a week after Dean took office. He and his aides and attorneys have been negotiating with them since then. "We have reached a point in this process where the city has presented its best deal possible to meet both the financial needs of the investors and the commitment on my part to protect our taxpayers," Dean said in the statement. 'It's an incentive to stay' Some elements of the city's offer: n Ticket prices for Predators games would have to stay below NHL averages. n The city would continue to provide $3.8 million a year in operating support for the arena for five years, matching the funding level in 2006. n The owners would cap the city's liability for arena operating losses at the 2006 level, $3.8 million, plus up to 5 percent a year in adjustments for five years. n Metro would provide another $3 million a year for five years in management fees, rent reduction and other lease changes. n As an incentive, the owners would receive half of all arena revenues above 2006 levels for five years, capped at $2 million a year. The revenues would come from sales taxes, seat use charges, rent, food and drink, advertising, parking, merchandising and Ticketmaster royalties. The buyers had wanted all of the additional revenue generated by arena events as an incentive for booking more concerts and other events. They have said that money would not exist if not for the team. But city officials said the 50-50 revenue split would prevent the arena from becoming too much of a private facility in the eyes of the IRS, which could take away the tax-exempt status of the bonds used to pay for the building. n The Predators would have to pay the city $20 million if they left after three years and $25 million if they left after four years, allowing the city to recoup its $6.8 million a year in operating support and management fees. After five years — when the team could leave if ticket sales were below 14,000 a game, regardless of its financial losses — leaving would cost the owners $10 million. "It's an incentive to stay," Deputy Mayor Greg Hinote said. "And if they can't stay five years, they're going to pay us back." The offer does not mention the $6.9 million in arena capital improvements — including converting the current rehearsal hall into a 4,000-seat concert venue — that Metro attorneys had previously agreed to fund. Dean added that the additional money the city would provide for arena operations and management fees "will not take away from any funding for our schools, public safety or our city's other basic needs," because property tax revenues would not be used. www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071110/SPORTS02/711100357www.tennessean.com/assets/pdf/DN91243119.PDFwww.tennessean.com/assets/doc/DN91268119.DOC |
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Post by selannejets on Nov 13, 2007 22:38:21 GMT -5
hopefully they'll move.
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Post by vivianmb on Nov 14, 2007 22:56:05 GMT -5
Preds deal announcement called off
By MICHAEL CASS
Staff Writer
A scheduled announcement of a deal between Metro Nashville and the investors who want to buy the Nashville Predators has been called off.
Some Metro Council members had been summoned to a 3 p.m. press conference, but that has been postponed because the investors have not yet agreed to Mayor Karl Dean's final offer.
"No agreement has been reached, no term sheet has been signed, and only if and when they did accept the mayor's offer would there be a need for an announcement," said Janel Lacy, Dean's spokeswoman. "There's no event planned for 3 p.m."
Joe Hall, a spokesman for the investors, declined to comment.
Dean and the mostly local buyers have been negotiating for six weeks to change the team's arena lease. The buyers say they must do that to have a chance to make the team financially successful. They want to buy the Predators from Craig Leipold for $193 million.
Leipold says the team has cost him $70 million and that he needs to sell it. He talked to out-of-town buyers before agreeing to exclusive talks with the group that wants to keep the team in Nashville.
Dean's offer, which he made Friday, included up to $4 million a year for five years in management fees for the prospective Predators owners to manage the arena; a requirement that the team pay for any arena operating losses above about $3.8 million annually; and a requirement that the owners keep the Predators here at least five years, unless they lost $20 million within three years and paid attendance was less than 14,000 a game.
Leaving early would cost the buyers, however. They would have to repay about $6.8 million a year that the city would provide in operating support and management fees if they left after the 2009-10 or 2010-11 seasons.
If they left after 2011-12 - fulfilling the five-year commitment but not the 30-year lease, which expires in 2028 - they would pay the city $10 million.
Contact Michael Cass at 259-8838 or mcass@tennessean.com.
Tennessean.com and its related sites are pleased to be able to offer its users the opportunity
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Post by roosta604 on Nov 15, 2007 3:42:31 GMT -5
So what the heck does this mean?!?
Someone realized...."Wait a minute...what was the reason we were gonna stay here? It's like committing to losing 20 million for the next 5 years!"
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Post by joelzillmanwpg on Nov 15, 2007 18:51:49 GMT -5
To quote the late "Badger" Bob Johnson: "This is a great day for hockey"
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Post by khall555 on Nov 16, 2007 16:40:02 GMT -5
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Post by Darren Ford on Nov 16, 2007 16:54:03 GMT -5
And how often do you make the 60 mile drive down I-40 from Cookeville to see the Preds?
Just wondering.
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Post by khall555 on Nov 16, 2007 17:01:10 GMT -5
And how often do you make the 60 mile drive down I-40 from Cookeville to see the Preds? Just wondering. Actually it's Crossville but up to 20 games per season last year only once due to lack of funds because I was buy diapers insetad of ticket (yes I did buy them) |
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Post by Darren Ford on Nov 16, 2007 17:02:30 GMT -5
20 is good...you're off the hook!
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Post by khall555 on Nov 16, 2007 17:09:10 GMT -5
20 is good...you're off the hook! the actual number is 22 that year (02-03) plus the draft I save my tickets to every event I have attended. I worked night shift at that time so every night off I was at a hockey game Sorry for being a jerk eariler but some of the past comments on here about Nashville was uncalled for. |
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Post by wagner3 on Nov 16, 2007 18:04:54 GMT -5
so the deal is apparently done this time...BUT so is the security of 20 years left on the lease...if attendance doesn't improve, the team will be moved at some point in the next five years...so it's up to the people of nashville to decide if they want/can afford an NHL team... Friday, 11/16/07 Metro, Predators buyers reach deal on arena lease By MICHAEL CASS Staff Writer After almost seven weeks of negotiations, Metro Nashville and the investors who hope to buy the Nashville Predators have reached an agreement to change the hockey team's Sommet Center lease, the lead investor said today. The lease changes will "keep the Predators in Nashville under local ownership," David Freeman said in a statement. "Our group wishes to thank the fans for their continued support, patience and enthusiasm for Predators hockey," Freeman said. Mayor Karl Dean said he was "extremely pleased we have received a positive response to our proposal and Nashville is now one step closer to having a hockey team that is locally owned." "This has been a lengthy process, but because we allowed ourselves the time to do this right, the goals I set out from the beginning have been met," Dean said in a statement. “Nashville is guaranteed to have hockey for the next five years and if that commitment cannot be met the city’s investment will be paid back. Most importantly, no additional property tax money will be used to pay for the operation of the Sommet Center." Freeman's group, which hopes to buy the Predators from Craig Leipold for $193 million, has said it needs to change the arena lease to have a chance to make the team financially successful. Leipold has estimated his operating losses at $70 million since the team started play in 1998. The Metro Sports Authority and Metro Council still must approve the deal negotiated by Dean's administration. www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071116/NEWS0202/71116050 |
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Post by WpgJets2008 on Nov 20, 2007 9:34:41 GMT -5
An interesting article/blog from hockeybuzz.com comparing how Nashville forked over the entire farm to get Titans football (unreal the amount of subsidies!!) to what the Preds asked for and got. I have also included some feedback comments. CCM ~~~ When will the Nashvillians remember? my.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?user_id=36838&post_id=3277Question!!!!! When will the Nashvillians remember that they (the taxpayers) paid Bud Adams to bring a football team here that cost 18 times more than what it will cost to keep the Preds here? Refer to the excerpt below. "A deal between the Houston Oilers and Nashville was announced in November 1995. The stadium would seat 67,000, with 120 luxury suites and 9,600 premium seats. Adams would not only not have to lay out a dime to build the new facility, but he would also receive a $28 million relocation fee and garner 100 percent of stadium-related revenues. The state would kick in $55 million in construction bonds and $12 million more for road improvements. Nashville would fork over $144 million and had to guarantee $70 million in net sales of personal seat licenses, giving fans the option to buy tickets." Yet, the people of Nashville complain that the Preds are asking for the taxpayers to supplement their business model. What are the taxpayers doing for the Houston-Tennessee-Oilers-Titans?!?!?!?!? Not only are they supplementing the business model for the football team but, they are making Bud Adams a richer man! What does Bud Adams do to repay Nashville? He pulls the plug on the Nashville Kats, again! Wow, aren't we stupid as Nashvillians! We just allow this to happen without saying a word but, we throw a tirade about the Preds asking for a fraction of the deal that we give the Houston-Tennessee-Oilers-Titans as well as Nissan, Dell, and other companies that the taxpayers have gotten on their knees for. Oh yeah, by the way, Dell is cutting jobs (sending them to foreign soil) and Nissan headquarters is going to Williamson County yet the subsidies come from Davidson County. Wow, that all makes perfect sense! Let this stick in your head. Nashville will not get a main tenant to fill the Sommet Center (H.O.P., G.E.C., Nashville Arena) if the Preds leave town. Thus leading to small downtown businesses, that depend on those nights of heavy traffic, closing up and the owners going home to their families trying to figure out how they are going to get by now that their source of income is gone. I think the largest lack of support (attendance) for the Preds is because of the great uncertainty that surrounds the team. Ignorance of the game called Hockey scares the typical football fan away and they just never give it a chance. Give Hockey a Chance Nashville! It takes more than 10 years to develop a nontraditional market. Hockey is growing here. The local sheets of ice, Centennial Sportsplex and Southern Ice Arena, are turning youth away because the leagues are already full and there is no other places to play. These are the future Predator season ticket holders. In 1998, Nashville started their journey. I was 21 and a college student. I will be 30 in December, I am now a season ticket holder (and have been since 2001-2002 season). I had to graduate from college and get my own income so that I could support the Preds by purchasing season tickets for myself and my family. The bottom line is that Nashville needs more time to develop! Give it a chance Nashville! I am confident that if a deal, that promises to keep the Preds in Nashville for an extended period of time, gets done soon this season can turn out to be a success. IF no deal gets done I think it will be a season of struggles and a season of heartache and a season of good-byes. Good-bye play-off run, good-bye star players (what's left of them), and good-bye Predators. We'll catch you on the tube in Kansas City or Hamilton, Ont. arwilson529 November 19, 2007 1:56 PM ET Great article man predjoe November 19, 2007 3:22 PM ET People here in Nashville see the world through football colored lenses...it will, unfortunately, always be that way. Lightningtaz24 November 19, 2007 4:15 PM ET Thanks, arwilson529!Predjoe, Unfortunately, I tend to agree with you. But, believe it or not, I used to be one of those guys! All it took was a Preds game and a dare 6 years ago and I was turned into a Preds fan for life! There is hope on the horizon but, we have to keep building the youth hockey leagues. That is where our future is. It's up to us to keep the flame going until they are old enough to support this thing themselves.See you at the rink! predators1998 November 19, 2007 5:22 PM ET As a long time fan, I have never understood why the Tennessean has not shown any true support for the Preds, while suckling the TITans for all they can get. The NHL will never get the exposure the NFL enjoys, but are the people of Middle Tennessee so myopic that they can't see the added global exposure that the Preds have brought us? The fan support is not as pathetic as some in the media make it out to be, but it can be better. The real issue is to get the local media to maybe give a little positive backing, and maybe then the corporate market will realize that supporting the Preds makes good business sense as well. The best thing we as fans can do is to support those businesses that support the Preds and let them know that's why you are spending money with them. |
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