[Hockey News]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -Todd Tayes had been working in his grandmother's pastry shop, saving his money for a flat-screen TV. When the 12-year-old boy heard the Nashville Predators needed to sell more tickets, he changed his plans.

"I wanted to buy some tickets," he said.

Tayes and his uncle, Chris Turner, teamed up Thursday and bought a 13-game package each - their first ticket purchase - for the upcoming season during a 15-hour rally held by a local group trying to sell enough season tickets to keep the Predators' lease in effect after the 2007-08 season.

The team's future ownership is still undecided. A local investors group has been given the chance to keep the Predators in Nashville after meeting with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman on Wednesday in New York.

A Canadian billionaire and a California businessman also have separate offers for the Predators, but Jim Balsillie's $220-million bid stalled after a letter of intent was signed in May.

Whoever owns the team would have to spend millions of dollars to break the arena lease if the "Our Team" effort helps the Predators average a minimum of 14,000 in paid attendance this season. The team averaged 13,815 for 2006-07.

NHL officials and current owner Craig Leipold monitored Thursday's rally to see how Nashville would respond.

Diehard Predators fans rally to sell tickets, keep team in town