Nashville Mayor Says Preds Deal Is 'Close'

Late this week, The Tennessean reported the lease deal being negotiated between Nashville and the local investors buying the Predators calls for about $7 million in taxpayer money, on top of the $4.2 million in public funds that will be used annually to help operate the team. As these negotiations continue to stagger forward toward an Oct. 31 purchasing deadline, the saliva in Kansas City has exponentially increased.

On Saturday, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean gave Metro Council members some sunny news about the Predators' future in the city, according to The Nashville Post:

During this morning's Metropolitan Council Policy Seminar at Vanderbilt University, Dean addressed the issue of concessions on the Sommet Center to help the local buyers acquire the team. He told Council members that "we have made a lot of progress in the last few days" and "we are close." He added that he hopes to make an announcement soon. The local buyers have been working feverishly with the city to get concessions on the Sommet Center so they can close the sale by Oct. 31 and at least break even with the team and still put a competitive group on the ice. As of yesterday, the word had been that both sides were working on some details but broadly had reached an agreement.

As this ownership roller coaster has twisted and turned, I've become more and more pessimistic that the Predators would actually remain in Nashville, even with an agreement close. But stranger things have happened: Who knew Kellie Pickler would dump Jordin Tootoo, and then face a lifetime of having strange men telling her they'd be honored if she would take the virginity of their teenage sons?