In Nashville, Annie Johnson noted the Predators are "averaging just shy of 16,600 fans a home game this season, which is about 97 percent of Bridgestone Arena’s capacity." The highest average attendance in franchise history "was between 1999-2000, when attendance hovered around 16,600 a night." Sunday's sellout against the Flames "marked the Predators' sixth in a row this season, tying the franchise record for consecutive sellouts." The Predators this season "have sold out more than half of their 20 home games, a milestone team officials believe has set the stage to break the record of 20 regular season sellouts during the Preds' inaugural season in 1999." Last year, the franchise "had 16 sellouts during the regular season, and 22 including the playoffs." Predators President & COO Sean Henry "hopes to bring the total tally to 25 this year" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/4).
CHOMPING AT THE BIT: In St. Paul, Ray Richardson noted the T'Wolves "sold out their first two home games, against Oklahoma City and Miami, and are averaging 17,097 in attendance, up from 15,243 at the end of last season." T'Wolves President Chris Wright said, "We've been selling over a thousand walk-up tickets for each game." Wright added that season-ticket renewals "have surpassed 7,700, the highest since 2005, and more corporations are expressing interest in sponsorship deals." He also noted that some companies "not involved in the club's offseason marketing plans are making late pitches after seeing interest in the Wolves take off" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 1/4).
PARLEZ-VOUS FRANÇAIS? Canadiens coach Randy Cunneyworth said Tuesday that he is "working on learning French and hopes that significant strides will be made by the time the decision is made on who will be behind the bench next season." In Toronto, Bill Beacon noted Canadiens Owner Geoff Molson and GM Pierre Gauthier "have promised they will have a coach who can speak French in place for the 2012-13 campaign." Cunneyworth said, "With any team, it can be uncertain if you don't win or accomplish the goals you set forth. I'm working hard to pick up the language as much as I can and as quickly as I can. Hopefully that will be the case by the time some of the decisions are made" (TORONTO STAR, 1/4).
