While perusing different news sources, it still fascinates me on what has not been reported in the mainstream media about the situation with the sale of the Nashville Predators and the bizarre actions of the city government and current administration...

The prospective local ownership ownership group was asked to share lease change proposals with outside city counsel, recognizing that these were concepts only and would ultimately have to be presented to the new mayor and new city council to be elected in a few weeks who would ultimately be responsible for any actions taken. There was no attempt by local group to be secretive... in fact they were directed by current administration! Then the local group gets thrown under the bus on the front page of the newspaper... bizarre.

There's a deep concern about the local ownership group asking Nashville to guarantee 14,000 paid tickets per season every season. Keep in mind that teams have to average 14,000 to qualify for full amount of NHL revenue sharing. Smaller market teams would struggle mightily without that money... and before you start... Canadian teams will take full advantage of this in different economic times... a turnaround in the value of the American or Canadian dollar will dramatically impact the Candian teams revenue. By the way... the cost to Nashville for this clause if in existence last year... about $300,000. $300k to ensure a business that drives multiple millions into Metro's coffers.

We have become so jaded as a public... The local ownership group is putting up the biggest amount of money in this effort to ensure the Predators remain in Nashville, all they are asking is for community to share in the risk by committing to ticket support and lease assistance. This ownership group is not looking to make money... In fact, they could make more money in other ventures, but believe Predators are an important asset to Nashville and are prepared to take the lead role, but they cannot afford to do it alone.

We are so used to business people (especially "Money men") only looking out for themselves that everyone seems to be having trouble understanding that this group is doing this for the community. David Freeman and his partners can certainly make money on this deal when they eventually sell the team... however they really do seem to be driving this from a loyalty perspective.

Metro government makes the suggestion that the cost of the Predators to city is $13 million annually. Good luck making the budget numbers add up to that number. I really wish I could do my household budget the way Metro does their budget... I'd be living in a mansion and driving a Lamborghini.

The dirty little secret of this $13 million dollar number is that it is the cost to the city for the Sommet Center (not simply the Preds.) The number includes annual debt service and operating budget. The city of Nashville signed off on those expenses when they decided to build the building (four years before the Preds got here!) The city of Nashville would have those annual expenses whether the Predators were here or not. Those expenses don’t go away if the Predators go away.

OK... city support of businesses is always an emotional, hot-button issue. Mention the word taxpayer, the horns get honked and hearts, minds and ears close, however, there is a point to be made that most of the support for the Sommet Center and LP Field comes from hotel/motel taxes ... A point could be made that the very tourism the Predators (and Titans for that matter) drive are footing most of the bill for this.

This team’s economic impact has been estimated to be approximately $80 million per year. That translates to over $600 million during eight seasons played to date.

It's time to take the long view and get this deal done.

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