Nashville Predators owner Craig Leipold today invoked an escape clause in his team’s lease with the city that gives him the right to terminate the agreement if the team does not average 14,000 in paid attendance per game during the 2007-08 season.

If that mark is not reached next season, then the lease can be legally terminated and the Predators can leave town.

“As the Predators owner, I have the responsibility of protecting the short and long-term interests of the franchise,” Leipold said in a prepared statement. “I am confident that this is the appropriate course of action for the franchise. This clause provides important protection to insure that the club remains viable in Nashville.”

The move comes as Leipold attempts to sell the team to Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie. It’s believed Balsillie would move the Predators to Hamilton, Ontario, if the Predators don’t average 14,000 in paid attendance next season.

The lease states if the Predators do not average 14,000 in paid attendance per game in consecutive years, then the team can invoke the escape clause. What follows is a “cure” season. In this case, the cure season would be 2007-08, when 14,000 in paid attendance would have to be met in order for the team stay in town.

Thanks Nashville! Someone needs to step up before we lose the first team. Football is not the only sport in this town. The Nashville Sounds baseball team is also tossing the ball around about bailing Nashville because the stadium that the games are held at is VERY old and they are getting tired of it.

Nashville sticks its hand in a new "Semphony Center" and new hotels, but not what really brings the people in and keeps them here. And screw the dam CMA Music Festival, I hate country music! I used to go to Summer Lights and Dance'n in the District, before they started moving to a, lets build up downtown, but have nothing fun for the people of Nashville. Dam even the Nashville Convention Center is tiny and needs to be bigger, but the best place for it is now being over run by over priced yup-scum projects.

Whoa... I feel better.

But I hate that the people who work 9 to 5 cant do skit about this, and that the avg joe like myself will lose because of something that is out of my hands.... collectively speaking.

Predz about to jump ship... & Nashville will slip on the ice....