PREDATORS ANNOUNCE SALES AT 11,059; BETTMAN OPTIMISTIC

          NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman spent Friday in Nashville
     with Predators officials, Nashville Mayor Phil Bredesen and
     city business leaders, according to Jeff Legwold of the
     Nashville TENNESSEAN.  Bettman: "I believe in this market, I
     believe in this ownership, I believe in the arena, I believe
     in the mayor."  As of Friday, the team had sold 11,059
     season tickets, 941 short of the March 31 goal of 12,000. 
     Predators Majority Owner Craig Leipold said that the team
     has sold the needed luxury suites, all dasher board
     advertising space and "has in large part met the club seat
     requirement" before the March 31 deadline.  Leipold: "On the
     club seats, we're very close and if we meet the ticket goal,
     those will also fall in there" (TENNESSEAN, 3/21).