Brett Wilson Has Agreement In Place To Buy Predators Shares

Wilson Has No Interest In Moving Preds From Nashville

Canadian billionaire Brett Wilson has a "handshake agreement in place to buy shares" of the Predators, according to Eric Francis of the CALGARY SUN. Wilson said of Predators Owner David Freeman, "We shook hands on the deal -- we just haven't got it papered. ... The league still has to approve some of the nuances of what we're doing and the other owners have to be happy with the deal being cut with me." Francis notes Freeman "has made a bid to a bankruptcy trustee to buy the 27% stake in the club formerly held" by former Predators investor William "Boots" Del Biaggio, but Wilson "insists his share in the team would be 'nominal.'" Wilson said he has "no interest in moving a team anywhere." Wilson said of Nashville, "I love the town and I have other business interests down there." Francis notes Wilson turned his attention to Freeman and the Predators after being informed by Flames President & CEO Ken King last spring "none of the team's owners had plans to sell their interests." The Predators deal marks the third team in which Wilson and Freeman share an interest, joining English Football League Championship club Derby County and Double-A Southern League West Tenn Diamond Jaxx (CALGARY SUN, 2/24).

PLAYOFF FREEZE: In Nashville, John Glennon reports the Predators "will keep first-round playoff ticket prices the same as 2008-09 regular-season ticket prices." The prize freeze "will apply to full and partial season ticketholders as well as individual game prices" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 2/24).