Preds Project Slight Profit

John Glennon's article from The Tennessean lets us know that the Nashville Predators ((pictured, thanks Sanford Myers/The Tennessean)) will actually, if projections hold, come out ahead by about US$145,000 after the season comes to a close.




From the article and lead owner-type David Freeman:


"We're healthy," Freeman said. "Even this year, with all the questions about economy and attendance and sponsorships, and our (team's) slide, we're encouraged by our estimates on where we'll end up at the end of the year."



The owners also don't think, at the present, that they'll need to make up the 246 ticket shortfall to get their full-share of National Hockey League revenue sharing by dipping into their own pockets. That's a big relief...


"We have the plans in place for the remainder of the year to exceed (the 14,000 average)," Ed Lang said. "I feel good about us getting there.


"Traditionally, February and March are very strong for us. If you take just what we did last year in that time period, if we equal it, then we'll exceed the 14,000. So I'm not planning on the owners being involved in (buying tickets)."



Lang, for those of you not steeped in memorizing every member of the Predators hierarchy, is their President of Business Operations...

Here's the financial run-down from the Preds point-of-view:

Season/NHL Player Salaries/Profit (Loss)


2005-06- US$31.261 million ((-12.224 million))
2006-07- US$39.439 million ((-17.008 million))
2007-08- US$32.319 million/ 1.826 million
2008-09*- US$43.7 million/ $145,000

Attendance averages- 12,513/13,589/13,429/Projected: More than 14,000

*Projected
**Salary numbers shown include disability insurance reimbursements received by team.