Nick Saban Joins Nashville Predators Ownership Group

Former University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban is a minority owner of the Nashville Predators, the team announced Tuesday.

Dream Sports Ventures LLC, which is controlled by the ESPN College GameDay host and his business partner Joe Agresti, closed its purchase of a minority stake in the NHL team “recently,” the announcement said.

The move is Saban’s first foray into sports ownership. He and Agresti have built a portfolio of 10 car dealerships, including two luxury dealers in Nashville, according to the Predators. The two have been business partners since 2013.

Earlier this year, Forbes reported that annual revenue for Saban and Agresti’s car empire is nearing $2 billion, though the former football coach is the minority partner in the alliance. The article also said the two were eyeing investments in “three of four” professional teams in Tennessee, and a South American “automotive-related” business. Agresti, Saban, and his wife, Terry, also recently joined the ownership group for an Alabama beach resort.

The Predators are owned by Bill Haslam, the former governor of Tennessee and brother of Jimmy Haslam, who owns the Cleveland Browns, Columbus Crew, and a stake in the Milwaukee Bucks. Earlier this year, Haslam led an unsuccessful bid along with University of Tennessee alums Candace Parker and Peyton Manning to bring a WNBA team to Nashville, named after late Tennessee Volunteers coach Pat Summitt.

Saban coached Alabama from 2007 until his retirement in early 2024, winning six national titles in Tuscaloosa. He also won a national title coaching at LSU, and served as head coach for Michigan State and the Miami Dolphins.

“Although I am now retired as a coach, I still possess a competitive nature and a great passion for sports,” Saban said in a statement. “Being involved in a sports team in Nashville has always been a goal and the opportunity to partner in the Predators with a class act like Bill Haslam created the perfect scenario for us. The Preds are a great organization with a fantastic brand, and we are excited to be part of the future success of the franchise.”

After buying a minority stake in the team in 2022, Haslam took over majority ownership of the Predators in July. The team sits near the bottom of the league standings after a rough start to the season.