[vincesanity82]

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Monday that even if the sale of the Nashville Predators goes through, the franchise "is not going anywhere." Craig Leipold has signed a letter of intent to sell the Predators to Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie for $220 million after losing $70 million in 10 years of ownership.The terms of the sale, which must be approved by three-fourths of the NHL's board of governors, call for the deal to be completed by June 30.
Bettman said he met with Balsillie last week and asked whether the co-CEO of Blackberry makers Research in Motion Ltd. had intentions to relocate the franchise.
"He told me that he did not," Bettman said before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals between Ottawa and Anaheim.
"What's clear to me from meeting with Mr. Balsillie is he's passionate about the game, he'd like to own a franchise and certainly has the resources to do it. Beyond that, there have been no promises, there have been no predictions."
The Predators finished third in the league standings this season with a franchise-record 110 points, but averaged 13,815 in paid attendance.
Leipold has until June 19 to exercise a "cure" clause in Nashville's arena lease that would force the city to buy tickets and ensure attendance averages 14,000 next season. Leipold said he has not yet discussed with Balsillie whether to exercise that clause, but will speak to Balsillie.
Balsillie would have to sign a consent agreement with the NHL, including a clause that prevents a new owner from relocating the team for seven years. But an arena lease would have to be in effect to force the new owner to follow that league requirement.
Averaging 14,000 paid attendance in 2007-08 would keep the lease in effect.
"If the attendance mark is satisfied, even if it's not, or if the city cures what would then be the default, this team is not going anywhere," Bettman said.
"There is a lease and sports leagues aren't in the practice of letting teams violate their leases. I believe Mr. Balsillie understands that. It's conceivable that this team will be in Nashville as long as its lease."
Leipold has said he hopes Balsillie's business skill can tap into the corporate support he never found to make a profit.
"This team suffering is due to a lack of corporate support," said Bettman, adding that more individuals own season tickets than corporations in Nashville, which he said is unique among NHL cities.

FOX Sports on MSN - NHL - Bettman: Nashville 'not going anywhere'

[Hockey News]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (CP) - If Jim Balsillie plans to move the Nashville Predators to Hamilton once his purchase of the team is completed, he'll have some big-name support from Don Cherry.

Cherry urged the NHL to back a possible move to Hamilton during his Coach's Corner segment Wednesday night on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada, saying the Southern Ontario area would capably support the team.

"The National Hockey League did the right thing going south and giving it a try," said Cherry. "I said if you could go back . . . I'd be careful in Atlanta and places like that where they don't love hockey. You've got to go where they love hockey.

"Go in Hamilton . . . I guarantee you, there's eight million people in the Golden Horseshoe that love hockey. Eight million. If Alberta can have two and B.C., there's eight million people there. ...

"I guarantee 16,500 in the seats. It will be a sellout every time in Hamilton as far as I'm concerned."

Don Cherry urges NHL to support possible move of Predators to Hamilton

[ThePundit]

Wouldn't it just be like the NHL to announce that they're adding a franchise in Memphis?