[Hockey News]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -Representatives for Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie are meeting with Hamilton, Ontario, city officials over an exclusive agreement to move the Nashville Predators there as a contingency plan.

Balsillie has agreed to purchase the Predators, pending NHL approval, but the team's lease in Nashville may be in jeopardy over poor attendance.

Balsillie's attorney, Richard Rodier, said Wednesday the deal with Hamilton, a city of more than 500,000 people about 70 miles northwest of Buffalo, N.Y., would be a contingency plan in the event that the team's lease with Nashville was terminated.

"There has been no request, nor will there be, to relocate the team while that lease with the team is in good standing," Rodier said.

Prospective Predators owner meeting with Canadian city over relocation plans

[Hockey News]

HAMILTON (CP) - There's no guarantee that the NHL will be coming to Hamilton but hockey fans already have the option of reserving their seats at Copps Coliseum.

Ticketmaster began taking deposits for Hamilton Predators season tickets on Thursday even though Jim Balsillie's purchase of the NHL team in Nashville has yet to be approved.

The tickets are being offered on first-come, first-serve basis and deposits will be refunded if the team isn't moved to Hamilton by December 2009.

A $500 deposit is required for upper bowl seats at Copps while $1,000 is needed to reserve a seat in the lower bowl. A $5,000 deposit will get you a corporate box.

The arena currently seats 17,500 and has 10 corporate boxes.

The NHL's board of governors has yet to approve Balsillie's proposed purchase of the Nashville team for between US$220 million and $238 million.

Ticketmaster website taking deposits for "Hamilton Predators" NHL franchise