On the Forecheck
Next entry: Wearing your rage on your back
Previous entry: Taylor Swift flashes her Fang Fingers
Predators Progress
by Forechecker on 02/03/09 at 09:41 AM ET
Comments (2)
Despite being routinely brought up by commentators around North America as a prime candidate for relocation, the Nashville Predators appear to be making progress in this first full season under local ownership. This morning’s Tennessean provides some details:
A Predators franchise that reported $70 million in losses under Craig Leipold is on target to make money for the second straight season under new ownership, majority owner David Freeman said.
The Predators are forecasting a tiny profit of $145,000, but — considering the team’s player salaries jumped by about $10 million this season — it’s one of a few figures that appear to indicate the franchise is weathering current economic hardships.
Paid attendance is up, and new corporate sponsorships have been struck as well. Continuing to make a modest profit in the face of this season’s rising payroll ($44.8 million vs. $35.4 million), along with the general economic headwinds that all businesses are facing, is a welcome piece of good news.
Filed in: Nashville Predators | On the Forecheck | Permalink
Comments
Skepticism about such statements is certainly justified, but consider for a moment the motivations involved. Leipold, as you mention, was trying to justify payroll slashing and the franchise sale. The current group has an escape clause in the lease that triggers if they fail to hit 14K paid attendance and lose $20 million over the first three years. At the very least, these statements (and the conjecture about Freeman possibly buying tickets) make clear that these owners are committed to keeping the team in Nashville long-term.
Posted by Forechecker from Nolensville, TN on 02/03/09 at 10:02 AM ET
Add a Comment
Please limit embedded image or media size to 575 pixels wide.
Add your own avatar by joining Kukla's Korner, or logging in and uploading one in your member control panel.
Captchas bug you? Join KK or log in and you won't have to bother.
Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.
Most Recent Blog Posts
A pivotal Predators prospect: Colin Wilson
Canadian hockey team on the road to Nashville
Two recreational hockey players die on same night, at same rink
Calgary investor Brett Wilson to buy stake in the Nashville Predators
Preds enjoy a command performance
To buy or not to buy? That is the question…
About Kukla’s Korner
Kukla’s Korner is updated around the clock with the work of our own talented bloggers, plus links to the best hockey writing around the internet. We strive to bring you all the breaking hockey news as it happens.
The home page allows you to see the latest postings from every blog on the site. Subscribe here. For general inquiries and more, please contact us anytime.
Get the top online sports betting bonuses available to sports betters!
When learning from experts it’s best to learn personally from them, or from their blog. We can provide that with poker lessons blog, your home to learn poker personally.
Do you get shocked from the luck in the game of poker? Stop getting shocked and start being a Poker Shoker.
As well as reading about hockey games, you can also find info about poker like which poker sites accept American Express or which are the best Canadian poker sites and also find the top rakeback sites at rakeback.net.
Kukla’s Korner is always a free service for readers, but it costs some money to maintain. If you’re ever in a position to donate a few dollars to help out, we’d be very appreciative.
Of course this is not an “apples-to-apples” comparison. Leipold ran his accounting to try to show a loss so that he could publically justify selling the team - especially if it turned out he sold to a group that re-located it.
The current group wants to show they are viable and will run their accounting to show as big a profit as possible.
I don’t believe it was ever as unprofitable as Leipold’s numbers said or it is as rosy (if that is a fair statement for somebody claiming to have basically broken even) as the current group claims.
Posted by PuckStopsHere on 02/03/09 at 09:56 AM ET