Brian-Nashville

Eklund,

I am a fan that lives in Nashville. We have had hockey in one form or the other in our city for the last 25 years. Even before that there was minor league hockey here in the 1960s. Nashville is not a traditional hockey market by the "original six" terms. Nashville is a small market. We do not have the big money to spend on high priced free agents. We will be benefited greatly by a salary cap. The hockey world saw last season how the city and the area embraced the team when they made the playoffs last year. The three home games were all sold out. That ought to prove that if the product is competetive then the people will come. The five years of losing in the fanchise formative years made it all worth while when I made my way into the arena for my first playoff game.

The momentum that was gained from the playoffs was great. There was much more interest in the team and season ticket sales were up...even with the lock-out looming. How does all of this make me feel now? The total lack of concern from the NHL or the NHLPA for me and how I suffer. I do not make alot of money but I made my choice on which team to support. I could have easily given my money to the NFL team here. I knew that there was a chance that I could see the playoffs every year. Many people in this area did this very thing. I did not. I gave my money to a new team. A franchise that I knew would struggle. A franchise that I knew would lose alot of games in their first few years. I gladly did this. I made my thirty minute drive to the arena every game. Some weeks there would be three home games. I didn't mind this. I knew that it would all payoff eventually. I got the opportunity to see the "Great One" play and also "Super Mario." Would I have had this chance if the NHL was not here...NO. Last season as the team was in contention for a playoff spot me and a friend of mine drove to St. Louis to watch Nashville play. That is a five hour drive. This was the first time I had ever gone to see the team play on the road.

Now the season is slipping away. I do not have a team to watch. If I want to see Nashville players then I am going to have to go to Europe or to Milwaukee to watch their minor league team. Does the league really care that I do not have a team to root for? Do they really care that I am satisfied with what they have told me? Does the NHLPA care that I am not going to the games? Do they care that the money that I would have spent would have gone to pay their salary? The team owner has sent me a letter to say to be patient that all we work out they best for the future of the franchise. On the other hand, the league nor the union has sent me a letter to express their concern for me. Do I exist to them? Do they care that I am suffering also?

Whatever happens I do not think that either party will do anything in the future to breach the way I have been treated. I feel that my opinion does not matter. If that is the case then why should I welcome the NHL back when this is all resolved. Maybe I will lock the NHL out of my wallet. Maybe I will think twice about giving my money to any team in the NHL.

Thanks for hearing me out and you can gladly use my name to the NHL and NHLPA. What can they do to me now that has not already been done. My entire year has been shot because the sport that I love is not here. The team that I have supported is not playing and the way things are going are not going to play.

A frustrated Nashville Predator season ticket holder,

Brian