Nashville Predators Family Four Pack
Starts at only $99

All packages include

* 4 tickets
* 4 food vouchers good for a jumbo hot dog and a soft drink (4 food passes @ $4.50, 4 drink tickets @ $3.25 = $31)
* 4 ice skating passes at Centennial Sports Plex (4 @ $6 = $24)

The Shoot Twice Mezzanine, a value of up to $235.00
OR Upgrade to the Club Level for ONLY $122.00, a value of up to $395.00

Great deal for the group!

Nashville Predators Family 4-Pack

Just over a month after his sale of the Nashville Predators, Craig Leipold is back in the National Hockey League.

He was announced Thursday as the new majority owner of the Minnesota Wild, one of the most profitable teams in the league.

Must be that kinda guy... $$$

Leipold returns to NHL with a new team ...

When you reach for an ice cold mug of suds after playing a game of football, cricket or a long run, you're not just quenching your thirst, you're actually doing something healthy for your body -- seriously!

Researchers in Europe have carried out a study and found that a glass of beer is far better at re-hydrating the body after exercise than water as the sugars, salts and bubbles in a pint help people absorb fluids more quickly.

"The carbon dioxide in beer helps quench the thirst more quickly, while beer's carbohydrates replace calories lost during physical exertion," the 'Daily Mail' reported on Friday, quoting lead researcher Prof Manuel Garzon as saying.

In fact, the researchers at the Granada University in Spain came to the conclusion after examining 25 students who were told to do strenuous exercise in temperatures of around 40C until they were close to getting exhausted.

Half of the students were given a pint of beer to drink, while the others received the same volume of water after the workout. Subsequently, the team measured their hydration levels, motor skills and concentrationability.

Prof Garzon said the re-hydration effect in the students who were given beer was "slightly better" than among those given only water. Based on the studies, the researchers have recommended moderate consumption of beer -- 500 ml a day for men or 250 ml for women -- as part of an athlete's diet.

It may be mentioned that past studies have revealed that sensible drinking of one or two units of beer a day could help reduce the risk of heart disease, dementia, diabetes and Parkinson's disease.

Hey so my moderate daily beer drinking was not a bad thing... guess I will start that back up and keep on runnnnning ...

Beer after workout better than water

LOCAL OWNERSHIP GROUP HOSTS RALLY,
PRESS CONFERENCE ON MONDAY

NASHVILLE, TENN. – David Freeman and members of the Nashville Predators local ownership group will host a rally and press conference featuring Mayor Karl Dean this Monday, November 19, at 11 a.m. at the Sommet Center.

Friday, a major step was achieved with local investors reaching an agreement with the Dean Administration on lease changes that will ensure local ownership of the franchise. "This will give our city the very best chance to keep the team here for the long run," Freeman said.

WHO: David Freeman and members of the local ownership group
Mayor Karl Dean
Our Team Nashville leadership

WHAT: Rally and press conference

WHEN: Monday, November 19, at 11 a.m.

WHERE: Sommet Center Lobby
501 Broadway / Downtown

Nashville Predator Rally

Craig Leipold announced today that he has signed a letter of intent to sell the Nashville Predators and Powers Management (the company that manages the Sommet Center) to a group of local investors, led by David Freeman, CEO of 36 Venture Capital, and including Herb Fritch, CEO of Healthsprings, as well as William "Boots" Del Biaggio, President and CEO of SandHill Capital.

The investors, a group which would have majority and controlling interest in the club, includes local executives in finance, health care and private business. The sale price for the franchise is $193 million. The sale must be approved by the NHL's Board of Governors. The anticipated closing date for the transaction is no later than September 30, 2007.

"I am thrilled that David Freeman and his local group have joined up with Boots Del Biaggio and come together to purchase the Predators," Leipold said. "My hope is that their commitment to Nashville will be reciprocated in the form of business and individual support on an ongoing basis to make this franchise successful for the long-term. This is a great day for Predators fans, players and staff!"

"Six weeks ago we set out to acquire the Predators so that we could make sure our team stayed in our town. The letter of intent is a big step toward making it happen. Nashville is now firmly in the driver's seat to keep this franchise," said Freeman. "We are confident of moving through this process successfully and starting the 2007-08 season with local ownership in majority control of the future of the franchise. We want to thank Craig for giving us this opportunity.

"We have recruited Boots Del Biaggio to our investor team because as a limited partner in the San Jose Sharks he has strong experience and is respected by the Board of Governors," added Freeman. "His proven success in this league is important to us."

"Having the opportunity to join this exceptional, dedicated and committed local partnership was an opportunity that I could not turn down," said Del Biaggio, who will assume a minority investment position. "There is no doubt in my mind that this transaction will bring proper leadership and investment to the Predators while building an organization that the NHL leadership will respect and our fans can be proud of and support."

Mr. Leipold does not plan to comment again on the franchise sale until the transaction is completed and is approved by the NHL's Board of Governors.

Hell freaking YEA!

Now who wants to go in on tickets? I cant go to every game but would like to go to a few?

Leipold Signs Letter of Intent to Sell to Nashville Group!

It finally happened. NashvillePost.com has learned that after weeks of circling the Nashville Predators, a local investor group landed on Craig Leipold's doorstep yesterday morning and made him a formal offer for the team. Multiple sources have confirmed this news on the condition of anonymity.

There are no details yet on the size of the offer, as no one publicly associated directly with the deal is talking. David Freeman, former chief executive officer of Commodore Medical Services and now CEO of 36 Venture Capital, is putting the group together. Herb Fritch, CEO of insurer HealthSpring, is also among the group.

Chase Cole, an attorney with Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis who has been working with the group, declined comment. Freeman offered a "no comment." But he reissued the following statement via e-mail:

"A group of Nashvillians continues to pursue a purchase of the Predators on behalf of the Nashville community. While we recognize the intense interest of the local community in the future of the team, we ask for your patience and understanding as we go through this confidential negotiation process. In deference to the club's request, we will be unable to offer any further public information or comment regarding our bid until a binding agreement is in place."

Confidentiality agreements are likely in place, and nobody wants to make the same mistake as Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie in having a lot of information made public before a binding agreement is in place.

Predators fans have been rooting for the local ownership group to step forward, and NashvillePost.com has reported that Leipold wanted to see the local group step up, even being open to offer something of a Nashville discount. That may mean the price the group would pay is somewhere below the $220 million or more Balsillie offered.

Meanwhile, William "Boots" Del Biaggio, who has a minority investment in the San Jose Sharks, may still be in the picture as a potential bidder.

F*&K Yea! Anyone want to go in on some season tickets?

Local group makes bid on Preds

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....

"That's probably one of the reasons the newspaper industry is having the problems it is," he said.

"This team suffering is due to a lack of corporate support..."

Step-up a represent, corporate TN! Damn it! Red neck racing and Football suck... *vent*

Bettman: Predators staying in Nashville

June 25, 2007 will mark the 10-year anniversary of the awarding of the NHL franchise to Nashville that became your Nashville Predators. It's been an incredible 10-year journey for me. I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate your strong emotional and financial support of the Nashville Predators. You are a big part of the team's on-ice success. On behalf of the entire franchise, I thank you.

Ten years ago, I couldn't call myself a hockey expert. Today, my family and I are as passionate and competitive about the game as the most hardcore fans.

When the franchise began, I said we would run it as a business in order to be successful. We developed a game plan both on and off the ice. We became an integral part of the community, especially downtown Nashville. We made sure we had some fun. And, we indicated that making a huge profit was not a top priority – but we certainly didn't make plans to lose a significant amount either.

As part of those plans we developed a loyal fan base – every team should be fortunate enough to have a Cell Block 303 and the loudest arena in the league. We built a team that the community could be proud of on and off the ice. We grew our hockey skills exactly as general manager David Poile outlined, using the draft as a foundation and then supplementing at the appropriate times with trades and free agents. We gave back to the community – well over $2 million in grants and in-kind donations through the Nashville Predators Foundation. We created an entertaining in-arena atmosphere for every game night. And, we did it all while keeping our ticket prices near the bottom of the league.

Unfortunately, the success on the ice has not translated to success for me as business owner.

Here are just a few facts as to why:

* The Nashville Predators tallied up 216 points in the last two seasons, fifth most in the NHL, yet because of below-average attendance, the team will still have a real cash loss of $27 million during that time. Additionally, that loss is despite receiving the most money in the league from revenue sharing. Over the last five years, the team has lost over $60 million.
* We've invested heavily in sales and marketing efforts, spending over $50 million in 10 years, most of that with locally-based businesses.
* Our average regular season attendance this past season was 13,589, up from the year before, but still 2,000 below the NHL average. A low turnout, combined with a low ticket price results in a poor financial situation.
* The new NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement with revenue sharing is not a cure-all. Each local market must still support its local team. In addition, this attendance does not qualify us for our full revenue sharing allocation under the collective bargaining agreement.
* While individual fan support has always been strong, we've worked aggressively to increase our local business support since Season ... [ Read More (0.3k in body) ]

Well it looks as if the Predators might be on thin ice. I had fun going to games this year. But I bet the "leaf" that will now own the Predators will be looking to make a switch at the end of 2008-9 season if ticket sales go soft.

The Predators have an opt-out clause in their 30-year lease with the City of Nashville (the owners of the teams’ arena) if the team isn’t happy with their attendance. If the Predators exercise their out-clause they would be free to move to another city at the end of the 2008-09 season

The Predators out-clause is directly linked towards total ticket sales, not number of tickets sold based on building capacity. The club's lease works like this:

• If attendance slips below 14,000 a game this season, the Predators can signal an interest in exercising their Gaylord Entertainment Center escape clause two months after this hockey season ends.

• Average attendance would have to fall below 14,000 a game again in the 2007-08 season for the team to actually leave by October 2008.

And here’s the kicker – the clause is based on paid attendance and according to what Leipold told The Tennessean, the Predators actual paid attendance is actually just over 13,000 per game (the team gives away 1,500 tickets per game).

The Nashville Predators have been sold (Predators on thin ice?)