Nashville Predators to be sold; moving to Kansas City

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Boy, KC didn't have to wait long to get their shot at the NHL. In addition, the Nashville owner is selling it to the KC owner for 50 million less than the Ontario offer that he turned down.........

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=212106&hubname=

Report: Leipold won't sell to Baisillie

TSN.ca Staff

6/28/2007 9:02:06 AM

Jim Balsillie's bid to purchase the Nashville Predators and relocate them to Southern Ontario appears unlikely now that current Predators owner Craig Leipold has found a new buyer.

According to the National Post, Leipold informed Balsillie earlier this week that he would not accept his $238-million US offer for the NHL club. Instead, Leipold is preparing to sell the franchise to California businessman William DelBiaggio, who is expected to move the team to Kansas City instead.

DelBiaggio's bid is reportedly $50-million US less than what Balsillie was offering for the club.

Balsillie's deal to purchase the Predators was set to close on June 30.

"We are currently free to explore any and all options regarding the sale of the Nashville Predators," Gerry Helper, Nashville's senior vice-president of communications and development, said in a statement. "However, until and unless there is a binding agreement in place, we do not plan to comment on the status of Predators ownership.

"We will not comment on rumours and speculation."

The NHL, which called Balsillie's plans to relocate the team to Southern Ontario "premature", also declined to comment.

Despite the fact he doesn't yet own the team, Balsillie recently signed an option for a 20-year lease on Copps Coliseum in Hamilton and began accepting desposits for season tickets and suites.

Kansas City, which recently built a brand new downtown arena, has been searching for a permanent tenant and recently made a pitch to try and lure the Pittsburgh Penguins to Missouri. The arena is managed by Anschutz Entertainment Group, which is owned by L.A. Kings owner Philip Anschutz.

DelBiaggio has an agreement with the Anschutz Group to own and operate an NHL franchise in the new arena.

[Young Drachma]

Wow, that was fast.

[Young Drachma]

Too bad Canada didn't get another team, but I guess it's not a slam dunk that would've been the best particular spot for them anywhere, with two teams (at least) being negatively impacted.

It remains to be seen whether KC can support a NHL team though.

[Fidatelo]

If an owner is selling and knows that either buyer will move the team, why would he take $50 mil less from one guy? Did the Maple Leafs make some sort of under-the-table offer to cover the difference?

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

Too bad Canada didn't get another team, but I guess it's not a slam dunk that would've been the best particular spot for them anywhere, with two teams (at least) being negatively impacted.

It remains to be seen whether KC can support a NHL team though.

KC has two major sports franchises and a lot of hockey transplants from places like Chicago and St. Louis. Also, KC is a much different market than it has been in the past. KC is adding 20,000 residents a year right now onto the 1.8M people already here. It's just as big, if not bigger than some of the existing NHL markets.

As far as Canada, there's a reason that only a few NHL teams are left up there. There's a lot more money to be had in the U.S. markets, whether they like it or not. Owners are not in it to be charitable; they're trying to make money.

[clintl]

The arena is managed by Anschutz Entertainment Group, which is owned by L.A. Kings owner Philip Anschutz.

DelBiaggio has an agreement with the Anschutz Group to own and operate an NHL franchise in the new arena.

Nothing quite like incestuous financial relationships between "competitors"!

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Fidatelo

If an owner is selling and knows that either buyer will move the team, why would he take $50 mil less from one guy? Did the Maple Leafs make some sort of under-the-table offer to cover the difference?

Balsillie has a lot of enemies in the NHL. I don't know the full story, but I get the impression from looking at other discussions that he's ticked off a lot of people involved in the sport.

[bbor]

Bettman is an idiot...this has his fingerprints all over it.There is NO WAY a buisnessman who has made millions(Leipold) takes 50 mil less to sell his team.There is no reason for it,if he ran his other businesses like this he would be bankrupt.

Obviously the NHL is going to make up the 50 mil difference just to keep the NHL out of a thriving hockey market and put it into a maket that has already lost one team after 2 seasons.

Another stellar move by the NHL.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by clintl

Nothing quite like incestuous financial relationships between "competitors"!

DelBiaggio is actually a minority owner of the Sharks right now if I remember correctly. He'll have to sell off that interest to complete the deal.

Anschutz Entertainment only owns the arena. They have no interest in the actual team.

[Oilers9911]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Balsillie has a lot of enemies in the NHL. I don't know the full story, but I get the impression from looking at other discussions that he's ticked off a lot of people involved in the sport.

The only people he has pissed off is Bettman and his lackeys because he dared want to move the Preds to Canada where people would actually give a fuck. Instead they may move to Kansas City where they will fail as well and the NHL will look even more minor league than it does now. Bettman must be fired. By the way, the other league owners are in favour or Balsillie. An owner with deep pockets wanting to move to a place where the team would thrive means the other owners wouldn't have to revenue share with the Preds anymore.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Oilers9911

The only people he has pissed off is Bettman and his lackeys because he dared want to move the Preds to Canada where people would actually give a fuck.

I'm guessing that wasn't the actual reason given by Commissioner Bettman even if it is true that they don't like each other.

[Oilers9911]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

I'm guessing that wasn't the actual reason given by Commissioner Bettman even if it is true that they don't like each other.

True, that would require Bettman to....actually tell the truth.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Forgot to mention that the realignment plan if Nashville goes to KC is still to move Detroit to the Eastern Conference and place the Predators in the Western Conference in the same division as St. Louis. For those that don't know, KC isn't too fond of STL, so it should make for a nice little addition to the rivalries that already exist in football and especially baseball.

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Forgot to mention that the realignment plan if Nashville goes to KC is still to move Detroit to the Eastern Conference and place the Predators in the Western Conference in the same division as St. Louis. For those that don't know, KC isn't too fond of STL, so it should make for a nice little addition to the rivalries that already exist in football and especially baseball.

um
the Predators already play in the same division as St Louis.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

um
the Predators already play in the same division as St Louis.

And the same division as Detroit, which is in the Western Conference.

I don't think Detroit will be leaving the Western Conference any time soon. Despite the fact that it makes a ton of sense to move them, I think the owners in the West will do everything they can to keep Detroit in that Conference. They are a big draw.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

And the same division as Detroit, which is in the Western Conference.

I don't think Detroit will be leaving the Western Conference any time soon. Despite the fact that it makes a ton of sense to move them, I think the owners in the West will do everything they can to keep Detroit in that Conference. They are a big draw.

That must have been only if Pittsburgh was moved to KC then. Sorry for the confusion.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

That must have been only if Pittsburgh was moved to KC then. Sorry for the confusion.

Yeah, that was discussed as the plan.

No worries. It'll take some time before you get your full NHL-bearings. Figuring out all this divisions and conferences wont be half as difficult as it was back in the day when they used names like Clarence, Campbell, Norris, Smythe, etc. Those were good times.

While I am happy for the folks in Kansas City, I hate seeing a franchise move.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

This article has more information about the difference in price. It sounds like the price Balsillie was offering was created from a bidding war. With Balsillie unable to come to an agreement, the bidding was reopened and DelBiaggio was able to get it for a cheaper price without Balsillie as competition. Also, it should be noted that the deal can only go through if the Predators average less than 14,000 in attendance this coming year.

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....RTS02/70628024

Report: Leipold set to sell Preds to Del Biaggio

By JOHN GLENNON
Staff Writer


For the past week, California-based businessman William "Boots" Del Biaggio III has maintained he’s not interested in getting back into the bidding for the Predators.

Canada’s National Post reported today, however, that current Predators owner Craig Leipold is preparing to sell the franchise to Del Biaggio instead of Canadian Jim Balsillie.

Predators spokesman Gerry Helper released a statement today:

"We are currently free to explore any and all options regarding the sale of the Nashville Predators. However, until and unless there’s a binding agreement in place, we don’t plan to comment on the status of the Predators’ ownership. We will not comment on rumors and speculation."

Del Biaggio could not immediately be reached for comment. He recently told The Tennessean he was focused on bringing a team to Kansas City through expansion and that "(Leipold’s) got a deal with Balsillie."

Leipold announced last month his intention to sell the team to Balsillie for $220 million. But the deal has slowed because Balsillie has yet to enter into a binding agreement with Leipold.

Del Biaggio was pitted against Balsillie in the initial bidding for the team, helping raise the selling price to $220 million.

Del Biaggio has a contract with Anschutz Entertainment Group to own an NHL team in Kansas City's new Sprint Center, whether that team arrives by expansion or relocation.

[bbor]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Also, it should be noted that the deal can only go through if the Predators average less than 14,000 in attendance this coming year

Get rid of talent:Check
Raise ticket prices:Check

Less than 14,000 per game:Inevitable

[Karlifornia]

Well, at least the Sharks won't have to travel quite as far to defeat their first round opponent next year.

[Dr. Sak]

Sorry but this is a stupid move on Nashville's management part. Let's sell for less money and have them move a team where there is less passion for hockey. The NHL shouldn't be happy either, there is no where near the passion for hockey in the US as there is in Canada. Adding another team there would be good for the league. It would have allowed another huge rival for Toronto and even Buffalo, not to mention the other Canadian cities.

Man I cant wait to listen to Hockey Central at Noon on Fan590. All they talked about for the past week was about Hamilton

[Dr. Sak]

Originally Posted by Karlifornia

Well, at least the Sharks won't have to travel quite as far to defeat their first round opponent next year.

Dola...Nashville isn't making the playoffs next year.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by bsak16

Sorry but this is a stupid move on Nashville's management part. Let's sell for less money and have them move a team where there is less passion for hockey. The NHL shouldn't be happy either, there is no where near the passion for hockey in the US as there is in Canada. Adding another team there would be good for the league. It would have allowed another huge rival for Toronto and even Buffalo, not to mention the other Canadian cities.

Man I cant wait to listen to Hockey Central at Noon on Fan590. All they talked about for the past week was about Hamilton

Online link?

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by bsak16

Dola...Nashville isn't making the playoffs next year.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Nashville getting old and in need of a rebuild? Certainly convenient to do it this year if they want to move, but I thought a rebuilding year was in order anyway.

[Dr. Sak]

I usually get the podcast via iTunes everyday. Search for Fan590 Toronto or check this link. I think it will work but I am not entirely sure because it is blocked at work.

http://www.fan590.com/features/hockeycentral.jsp

[bbor]

http://www.fan590.com/

[bbor]

Dola

damn too slow

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by bsak16

I usually get the podcast via iTunes everyday. Search for Fan590 Toronto or check this link. I think it will work but I am not entirely sure because it is blocked at work.

http://www.fan590.com/features/hockeycentral.jsp

Thanks. I'll have to listen to today's podcast when they post it.

[Dr. Sak]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Nashville getting old and in need of a rebuild? Certainly convenient to do it this year if they want to move, but I thought a rebuilding year was in order anyway.

They recently traded Kimmo Timonen & Scott Hartnell for the first rounder they lost in the Forsberg deal. They also traded their goalie, Tomas Vokoun, to Florida for two picks and a conditional pick. Here is a list of their UFA in which I doubt they will sign any...

Unrestricted Free Agents: C Peter Forsberg, LW Paul Kariya, C Scott Nichol, D Sheldon Brookbank, RW Patrick Leahy, G Karl Goehring, C Kim Staal, D Vitali Vishnevski.

And since they are in full dump mode, not many UFA are going to want to come to a team with an uncertain future and in full salary dump mode.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by bsak16

They recently traded Kimmo Timonen & Scott Hartnell for the first rounder they lost in the Forsberg deal. They also traded their goalie, Tomas Vokoun, to Florida for two picks and a conditional pick. Here is a list of their UFA in which I doubt they will sign any...

Unrestricted Free Agents: C Peter Forsberg, LW Paul Kariya, C Scott Nichol, D Sheldon Brookbank, RW Patrick Leahy, G Karl Goehring, C Kim Staal, D Vitali Vishnevski.

And since they are in full dump mode, not many UFA are going to want to come to a team with an uncertain future and in full salary dump mode.

Yeah, I knew about Kariya and Forsberg off the top of my head. Would be great if they could do the rebuilding part this year and be back on the increasing upswing when they hit KC.

[Dr. Sak]

Now another question...is Jim Balsillie the owner version of Ted Nolan where he will be black balled in the league for years to come?

[bulletsponge]

i actually feel sorry for canadians about this crap. Hockey is thier sport, they are the only ones in any large numbers who care about the sport yet their franchises keep dwindling and never grow.

im with my Canadian brothers on this, bring the NHL back to Canada!

[Oilers9911]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Nashville getting old and in need of a rebuild? Certainly convenient to do it this year if they want to move, but I thought a rebuilding year was in order anyway.

No, they are (were) not a team that was in need of a rebuild. They did have alot of UFA's and couyldn't afford to keep them all so in that regard there would have been a re-tooling, not a re-build.

[bbor]

Looks as though the Preds are rebuilding Philly.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Here's the article from the KC paper. It jives with what I've heard about Balsillie. He's irritated the NHL owners as well as the NHL execs in regards to the season ticket sales........

Kansas City's chances for the NHL's Predators get boost
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
The chances of Kansas City landing a National Hockey League team received a huge boost today, according to reports in Canada.

The National Post of Canada, citing anonymous sources, reported that Nashville Predators owner Craig Leipold plans to sell the team to San Jose, Calif., venture capitalist William “Boots” Del Biaggio, who wants to relocate the club to Kansas City’s new Sprint Center for the 2008-09 season.

Jim Balsillie, the co-CEO of BlackBerry maker Research In Motion, which is based in Waterloo, Ontario, signed a non-binding letter of intent on May 24 to buy the Predators from Leipold for $238 million and hoped to move the club to Hamilton, Ontario.

But Balsillie’s brazen move of taking season-ticket deposits in Hamilton while the Predators still have a lease to play in Nashville upset NHL owners and commissioner Gary Bettman and reportedly caused Leipold to have second thoughts about selling to Balsillie.

Del Biaggio, who has an a contract with Anschutz Entertainment Group to own an NHL club in Sprint Center, had made an offer reported to be for about $190 for the Predators. In 2005, he had an agreement to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins, but the club backed out of the deal after it won the NHL draft lottery and took Sidney Crosby with the first overall pick.

“I don’t want to officially comment because there’s a long way to go,” Del Biaggio told The Kansas City Star today while on vacation in Los Angeles.

“I don’t want to get caught up in all this like Balsillie did, and what happened to me in Pittsburgh.”

However, Del Biaggio, a minority partner with the San Jose Sharks of the NHL, said he has a good relationship with Leipold through Del Biaggio’s involvement with the Sharks.

“If Jim Balsillie falls out, I’m sure Craig is going to look at all his options,” Del Biaggio said. “I think it’s all speculation right now.

“The reality is it’s going to be a process.”

The Predators could opt out of their lease after the 2007-08 season if they don’t average 14,000 in paid attendance. The club, which had the third-best regular season record in the NHL last season, averaged about 13,800 last season in an arena that seats 17,113.

A Predators club spokesman issued the following statement:

“We are currently free to explore any and all options regarding the sale of the Nashville Predators. However, until and unless there’s a binding agreement in place, we don’t plan to comment on the status of the Predators’ ownership. We will not comment on rumors and speculation.”

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by bsak16

Now another question...is Jim Balsillie the owner version of Ted Nolan where he will be black balled in the league for years to come?

No. Jim is rich. Nolan is not and he's finally back, anyway.

[Izulde]

Well, looks like I'll be switching to the Bruins when this move goes through.

[Blade6119]

Mizzou, i understand your in KC and you would support this move, but speaking as an outsider, its a terrible decision. I dont see how this will really be all that different from nashville, as KC isnt what i would consider hockey hungry(not like canada, or certain US cities). And i know KC, as i spent quite a bit of time in the area when i lived for 13 years in missouri. I think in 3-4 years, when the "oh look, a new team" feeling wears off, attendence will be low and the team likely leaking money.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Blade6119

Mizzou, i understand your in KC and you would support this move, but speaking as an outsider, its a terrible decision. I dont see how this will really be all that different from nashville, as KC isnt what i would consider hockey hungry(not like canada, or certain US cities). And i know KC, as i spent quite a bit of time in the area when i lived for 13 years in missouri. I think in 3-4 years, when the "oh look, a new team" feeling wears off, attendence will be low and the team likely leaking money.

I certainly understand that opinion. They've built a lot of things into the arena and NHL deal that are going to make it awfully tough for a team to lose money in the first 30 years of the arena's life. The offer that they're floating is the reason that KC is on the top of the list and it's not just a lump-sum deal at the start. There's a lot of money and financial breaks over the long haul as well.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Media reports are saying that there's a possibility that the Predators may move before THIS season. There is a buyout option in the lease. It's rumored that DelBiaggio is considering negotiating an immediate release clause into the deal to get the Predators into the new Sprint Center this year. Makes perfect sense as the franchise will likely be a lame duck this year with a deal in place and most of the stars gone.

[Dr. Sak]

I believe the possiblity of them moving before this season are extremely slim. If that was the case then why not just let them move to Hamilton after they have already sold season ticket seat licenses and all of the Corporate box licenses? I think they'll end up in KC, just not this season. Here is a good article on what Bob McKenzie thinks went down.

http://www.tsn.ca/tsn_talent/columnists/bob_mckenzie/

As it relates to William (Boots) Del Biaggio: At face value, there may not be a whole lot of difference between Del Biaggio and Balsillie. Balsillie wants to buy the Preds and move them to Hamilton; Del Biaggio wants to buy the Preds and move them to Kansas City. That is no secret.

But the key here, if Del Biaggio's purchase of Leipold's Preds goes through, is whether Del Biaggio is prepared to follow league protocol on the issue of relocation. In other words, is he going to make a good-faith attempt to live up to whatever terms and conditions exist in Nashville vis a vis a lease etc.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by bsak16

I believe the possiblity of them moving before this season are extremely slim. If that was the case then why not just let them move to Hamilton after they have already sold season ticket seat licenses and all of the Corporate box licenses? I think they'll end up in KC, just not this season. Here is a good article on what Bob McKenzie thinks went down.

http://www.tsn.ca/tsn_talent/columnists/bob_mckenzie/

There is already an existing buyout clause in the existing lease. So by making sure a buyout was included in the deal, he could have the Predators in KC for this season. There'd be no issues under that scenario.

As far as Balsillie, there's obviously some hard feelings about him from people in the NHL. There's much more than meets the eye, but we'll likely never know the full story.

[Dr. Sak]

Answer me this then, why wasn't this ever brought by Balsillie since he had zero intentions of staying in Nashville?

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by bsak16

Answer me this then, why wasn't this ever brought by Balsillie since he had zero intentions of staying in Nashville?

The article you posted answers most of those questions. The Nashville owner thought he'd take a shot with Balsillie since he was offering a ridiculous premium on his purchase price. When that fell through because Balsillie couldn't play nicely with others, he went to the next option.

[Dr. Sak]

Never once from Balsillie nor the Toronto media did they say anything about an escape clause for this season. They talked about the 14,000 attendance one. If there was an escape clause for the 2007-08 season that Balsillie could exploit, believe me the Canadian media would've been all over it like flies on you know what.

Edit: Not to mention that any move would have to go through the NHL Board of Govenors, and there is no meeting with them scheduled till late summer/early fall.

[Simms]

A slightly different take on the behind-the-scenes posturing.

Key passage:

The issue today, as has been the issue all along, is his desire to purchase the Nashville Predators for an outrageous sum and move the franchise to Southern Ontario.


That shift would represent a legal nightmare for the league, given its own contradictory constitution and bylaws. Those include a territorial veto that in itself may be illegal, as well as an added clause written to fend off U.S. antitrust lawsuits that would make it nearly impossible at this stage for Balsillie to lose a straight majority vote.

Fwiw, Stephen Brunt has been around forever, and is every bit as highly regarded and respected as Bob McKenzie is when it comes to hockey matters. Just in case anybody's wondering who this hack is.

[Fidatelo]

Wait, the Preds are going to be playing in KC this season? I thought the Penguins moved there? I was all set to see Sid the Kid in a KC Penguins jersey in High-Def on my market-leading PS3 this fall...

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by bsak16

Never once from Balsillie nor the Toronto media did they say anything about an escape clause for this season. They talked about the 14,000 attendance one. If there was an escape clause for the 2007-08 season that Balsillie could exploit, believe me the Canadian media would've been all over it like flies on you know what.

Edit: Not to mention that any move would have to go through the NHL Board of Govenors, and there is no meeting with them scheduled till late summer/early fall.

The buyout is for $27 million dollars. It appears that the NHL is not in favor of that move because it wouldn't look good, but it is an option in any year of their lease...........

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....15024/-1/RSS05

Predators owner could break lease for $27 million

By JOHN GLENNON
Staff Writer


A longtime Metro Sports Authority member and local attorney says that even if the Predators hit 14,000 in paid attendance next season, an owner could still try to move the team.

Steve North said Friday that an owner could choose to break the lease himself, pay Metro a fee of approximately $27 million for “liquidated damages” and then move the team.

That scenario, however, is unlikely to occur, according to North.

The NHL is on record as saying it wouldn’t approve a Predators move if a lease were in place, and North said it’s his understanding that premise would also cover an owner breaking the lease himself -- as opposed to the lease breaking naturally because of average attendance below 14,000 paid fans.

“The NHL has said, as I understand it, that they will not allow the team to move so long as there’s a valid lease,’’ North said following the Sports Authority meeting on Friday. “I took from that that they would not allow the team to move if (the owner himself) breaches the lease.

“So that liquidated damage clause might not be useful if they wanted to move, because if they are required to breach the lease, as I understand it, the NHL wouldn’t approve the move.”

Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie is in the process of buying the Predators from owner Craig Leipold and Balsillie has developed a contingency plan to move the team to Hamilton, Ontario, in 2008 if the lease is broken.

Richard Rodier, Balsillie’s lawyer, has said repeatedly that the team would not be moved if a lease was in place.

Butch Spyridon, president of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau, said he was aware of the liquidated damages clause. But like North, Spyridon believes the NHL would block any move that began with the owner breaking a lease himself.

Spyridon is assisting the Chamber of Commerce’s efforts to try to sell 3,000 season tickets over the summer and was also in attendance at the Sports Authority meeting.

“Absolutely we’ve talked about (the liquidated damages) clause,” Spyridon said. “When you’re dealing with a man from another country with the resources he has, nothing is off the table.

“That’s when you rely on the league to be true on their word, that (if a lease is in place) there’s a minimum seven-year commitment and that the new owner can’t move the team.

“They have said they won’t support breaking the existing lease. So our strength comes from making sure the lease is in place.”

Predators officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

[chrisj]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

As far as Canada, there's a reason that only a few NHL teams are left up there. There's a lot more money to be had in the U.S. markets, whether they like it or not. Owners are not in it to be charitable; they're trying to make money.

There is a lot of money to be had in the US markets, that's true. But right now, if you want to make money, you'll be in Canada. The six Canadian teams are among the highest in revenues - in fact, I believe the lowest team is ranked 10th in revenues.

[Tyrith]

The Predators are going to move to KC and it's going to be like pulling the out of a black hole and dumping them into the middle of the desert. No one is really going to care. If the team moved to Canada, at least it might have some actual fans, but at this point and you're in KC and you care about hockey, aren't you already a Blues fan? I don't see that much unused capacity for hockey fans in Missouri, but maybe that's just me.