NHL: In Nashville, John Glennon noted the Predators'
drop in attendance this season of more than 9% and wrote
that the "empty seats that were hard to find at Predators'
home games last season are becoming increasingly plentiful
this season. ... Those numbers may not be catastrophic but
they certainly aren't encouraging for a third-year NHL
franchise still trying to prove hockey can establish itself
long term in a non-traditional market." Meanwhile, season-
ticket sales are down about 7% this year (TENNESSEAN,
12/18)....In Long Beach, Frank Welch noted the announced
crowd of 11,207 at The Pond for the Lightning-Mighty Ducks
on Sunday was the smallest in the eight-year history of the
franchise (Long Beach PRESS-TELEGRAM, 12/18)....The Columbus
City Council amended the city's tax code to "ensure that
visiting hockey players pay" Columbus' 2% income tax for
earning wages during games played there. The city is taxing
the nonresident players' wages based on what they earn per
game, as well as their incentives and bonuses. Blue Jackets
President & GM Doug MacLean, on the policy: "All of a sudden
it comes out of the blue" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 12/17).