Former Governor Prepares to Take Over Predators

Former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam is reportedly nearing a deal to purchase the Nashville Predators.

The NHL team is owned by Predators Holdings, a group composed of 17 owners and controlled by healthcare entrepreneur Herbert Fritch, who joined the ownership group in 2007 and was named chairman in 2019. 

The Predators’ current ownership group purchased the team for $175 million in 2007.

Forbes last valued the team at $600 million, a 38% year-over-year increase, but the Predators are still No. 25 in the 32-team league and below the league average.

Haslam has a reported net worth of $2.3 billion.

• It’s not clear how much of a stake Haslam is interested in, but multiple outlets have reported he will acquire a majority stake over time.
• Haslam’s brother Jimmy owns the Cleveland Browns with his wife, Dee.

The Predators have reached the postseason in 15 of the last 18 seasons. Music City recorded the second-highest attendance percentage during the 2021-22 season at 100.6%, behind only the Vegas Golden Knights at 104.2%.

Ownership Switch

If the Predators’ sale goes through, Nashville would be the second NHL team to be sold in the last year. The Pittsburgh Penguins were sold to Fenway Sports Group in late 2021 for $900 million.

The hockey club would also be the second major league sports team in Nashville to alter its ownership group this year. MLS team Nashville SC added Reese Witherspoon, Jim Toth, and Derrick Henry to its ownership group in April.