January 10, 2008
Leipold: It’s not me, it’s you, Nashville
Today Craig Leipold, owner of the Preds as of five weeks ago, did what has been rumored for months: He bought the Minnesota Wild.
I’m off two minds about this: One, Leipold could have taken (or tried to take) Jim Balsillie’s offer that would have almost assuredly landed the Preds in Ontario. Two, this purchase makes it absolutely clear just how bad Leipold thinks Nashville is as a hockey market. He’ll deny the latter to some degree, and I appreciate his role in helping the local ownership group purchase the team, but it sure stinks to see an owner Nashville once loved wind up in a competing market.
Nonetheless, it’s hard to begrudge him for wanting the Wild, where the team has sold out every single home game since it began play in 2000, but not for abandoning the Preds. I can wish Leipold success, but only to a point: Here’s hoping for a Preds playoff series victory over the Wild in the West finals one of these days.
![Rob Robinson](http://thinktrain.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/Rob.jpg")
Shawn said,
January 14, 2008 @ 10:37 am
I share your feelings on Leipold. In theory, I shouldn’t really care about what a smart businessman chooses to do with his money. He simply cashed out of one investment to reallocate the proceeds into a new one.
However, in reality, it feels like getting news of an ex-girlfriend getting married because she finally found “the right one”. (or like an ex-roomate moving out because he “bought a condo”. haha)
I’m glad I found your blog. Keep in touch.
Shawn
gavin said,
January 14, 2008 @ 12:39 pm
that’s a funny analogy by shawn. i am surprised to see him buy another franchise, but as you highlighted he at least protected the interests of the town by not selling to jim b. nashville is just a tough place to play as it is a smaller city there are only so many people will expendable income & the passion to get involved with season tix, or regular attendance to 40 some games
Rob Robinson said,
January 14, 2008 @ 12:58 pm
The ex-girlfriend analogy definitely registers to me. I’m sad to see that all of the enthusiasm from the early seasons couldn’t keep Leipold in town, but you’re both right that, eventually, the bottom line is the bottom line. No margin, no mission, unfortunately. Here’s hoping for slightly less success for the Wild than the Preds, but nonetheless best wishes to Craig. We would not be an NHL city without him, and I mean both being awarded a team in 1997 and keeping one ten years later.