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How to Save the Nashville Predators
by Alanah McGinley on 07/15/08 at 01:41 PM ET
Comments (6)
Greg Wyshynski at Puck Daddy has five unconventional ideas:
Ever since the latest Del Biaggio story broke, I’ve been noodling through ways to solidify the NHL in Nashville. There are certain obvious fixes, like continuing to rally local fans and businesses to buy into the franchise. The following five ideas are less obvious, more long-shot and are submitted for your approval. Or inevitable disapproval.
1. Move the Predators to the Southeast Division. This idea comes from a conversation I had with Predators blogger Paul Nicholson of Geek Thoughts. The abridged version: Sports fans in Nashville relate more to college sports rivalries than anything else. So naturally, teams in Georgia, Florida and perhaps Carolina are going to stoke fan passions more than teams in Chicago and St. Louis.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators | KK Hockey | Permalink
Comments
It has nothing to do with strength of competition. That will balance over the years. it has to do with marketing the team and natural regional rivalries and relationships.
But to clarify my position on the move to the Southeast…
I know that the first two teams to move east should be Detroit and Columbus. They are both in the eastern timezone and should join the rest of the eastern teams there. The only way Nashville could realistically move to the Southeast would be to completely re-org the whole league...which isn’t going to happen. But we should be playing them more often in the schedule at least.
Posted by Paul Nicholson from Nashville, TN on 07/15/08 at 03:33 PM ET
Nashville would kick the rest of the division’s behind, I think. The players would be so confused: “What happened to the defense? Aren’t they supposed to try to stop us? Why is it so easy to score in this conference?” 
Would it really make that much difference to market regional rivalries that haven’t had anything to do with hockey in the past, though? (In terms of ticket sales, etc.)
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/15/08 at 04:24 PM ET
It has nothing to do with competition level.... it has to do with drawing fans. Right now, the only team the Preds draw for is the Red Wings. Move them to where they maybe only visit once a year?… not a good plan for the continued state of hockey in Nashville.
If the fans won’t show up to watch Kane/Toews, Rick Nash, etc, what makes you think they’ll show up to watch Kovalchuk and Lecavalier?
Posted by Primis on 07/15/08 at 04:49 PM ET
Hey, the Southeast has Jason Williams now. And the Mullet. It could work?
Posted by Nate A from Dark side of the moon on 07/15/08 at 06:52 PM ET
Please no expansion to KC or LV! Please! No!
Of course, I said that about Nashville and Atlanta… Please, no! Please?
Posted by Steve from San Francisco on 07/16/08 at 04:45 AM ET
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Sure, because what the Southeast needs is another non-traditional hockey market with mediocre talent and a less-than-stellar record.
*rolleyes*
What a dumb idea to move the Preds to the SOiutheast. I agree the Central’s rough for them, but do you REALLY think the fans will turn out to watch Florida, Atlanta, Tampa, and Carolina?
Posted by Primis on 07/15/08 at 02:32 PM ET