Nashville Predators Achieve NHL Mandate Of 12,000 Season Tickets

The Nashville Predators, the National Hockey League's expansion team for 1998-99, reached its league-mandated goal of 12,000 season tickets sold by the end of March, bringing to an end a six-month campaign.

On March 28 a "Bring It Home" party at the Nashville Arena moved 543 tickets, bringing the total to 12,139 sold. "It's a good feeling to reach the goal, now we have to keep going," said Jack Diller, team president. "Our whole focus has been on that goal, and there is so much more to be done. We can't afford to turn off ticket sales, but now we have to turn our attention to other issues."

The league greeted the news enthusiastically. "We're thrilled," said the NHL's Arthur Pincus, adding that they had little doubt that Nashville would hit the 12,000 mark. "We gave them the franchise, didn't we?"

A simple "passage of time" helped the Predators reach their ticket goal, Diller told AB, with the Nashville corporate community being the main target. "When there is a learning process where you need to explain things to people because they haven't been part of the experience before, it's not a quick conversation," he said. "We had to explain to Nashville business people that there would be a return on their investment."

A certain "bandwagon effect" began to take place as the deadline grew nearer, Diller said. "We could see the momentum build. As certain businesses made the decision to be involved, it made it easier for others to come on board."

Diller and the Predators were enthused with the response from the public. "Individual sales were phenomenal, both for singles and doubles," he said.

The NHL was to be formally notified of the sales milestone by April 5, following an audit of sales figures. "We've got to dot our 'I's' and cross our 'T's' to get the notification in the form it is required to be," Diller said, adding that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was pleased with the results in Nashville. "The Commissioner was the architect of this expansion, so he obviously had a lot invested in this. For the first expansion team to reach its goal is an excellent sign."

The other expansion franchises are Atlanta (1999), Columbus, Ohio, and St. Paul, Minn. (both in 2000). Both teams have to reach the 12,000 goal by March 31 prior to their inaugural season.

Although there have been reports that Columbus has already sold 12,000 season tickets, they have actually only taken refundable deposits on these tickets. Nashville took only one-third, non-refundable "down payments" on tickets.

Other aspects of Nashville's hockey operation are also falling into place. The team has only about 20 of 63 suites left to sell, and club seats are also moving well. Improvements to the Nashville Arena to accommodate hockey come in at $14 million, and include suite buildouts, locker rooms, and fan amenities, such as escalators.