Editing Nashville Predators (section)

===Ownership===
The franchise was initially owned by a group led by [[Craig Leipold]]. On May 23, 2007, Leipold was reported to have reached a tentative agreement to sell the team to [[BlackBerry Limited|Research in Motion]] chairman and co-CEO [[Jim Balsillie]].<ref name=Balsille>{{cite web | url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2007/05/24/balsillie_has_deal_to_buy_predators.html | title=Balsillie has deal to buy Predators | website=[[Toronto Star]] | date=May 24, 2007}}</ref> At the time, Leipold indicated that the team would play the [[2007–08 NHL season|2007–08 season]] in Nashville but that the future of the team after that was not clear.<ref>{{cite web|title=Canadian Billionaire To Buy Predators|url=http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=6560713|website=newschannel5.com|publisher=WorldNow|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016131021/http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=6560713|archive-date=October 16, 2007|location=Nashville, TN|date=May 24, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On June 23, information leaked by several sources indicated that Leipold no longer wanted to sell the Predators to Balsillie.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cox|first1=Damien|title=NHL calling the tune in Nashville|url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/columnists/2007/06/23/nhl_calling_the_tune_in_nashville.html|access-date=May 28, 2017|work=Toronto Star|publisher=Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd.|date=June 23, 2007|location=Toronto, ON|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804173546/https://www.thestar.com/opinion/columnists/2007/06/23/nhl_calling_the_tune_in_nashville.html|archive-date=August 4, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Subsequently, a campaign to land the team in [[Kansas City, Missouri]], received a boost in late June 2007.<ref name="Predators get boost">{{cite web |last1=Dornbrook |first1=James |title=KC could have chance to join hunt for Nashville Predators |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2007/10/29/story12.html |website=www.bizjournals.com |access-date=November 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100716043820if_/https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2007/10/29/story12.html |archive-date=July 16, 2010 |date=October 25, 2007}}</ref> The Canadian ''[[National Post]]'', citing anonymous sources, reported that Leipold planned to sell the team to [[San Jose, California|San Jose]] venture capitalist William "Boots" Del Biaggio III, who wanted to relocate the club to Kansas City's new [[Sprint Center]] for the 2008–09 season.<ref name="Predators get boost"/> Del Biaggio, who had a contract with [[Anschutz Entertainment Group]] to own an NHL club that would play home games in Sprint Center, had made an offer reported to be for about $190&nbsp;million for the Predators. Del Biaggio had entered an agreement two years earlier, in 2005, to purchase the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]], but the club backed out of the deal after it won that year's NHL draft lottery and took [[Sidney Crosby]] with the first overall pick.<ref name="Predators get boost"/>

On July 19, 2007, a group of local business owners known as Our Team Nashville held a rally at the [[Bridgestone Arena|Sommet Center]] to encourage fans to buy season tickets in order to help the Predators meet the attendance figures needed to keep the team in Nashville. They drew approximately 7,500 fans and sold the equivalent of 726 full-season tickets during the rally.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Wilson|first1=Kevin|title=Local supporters stage successful ticket rally|url=http://predators.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=334837|website=National Hockey League|archive-date=August 7, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807134521/http://predators.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=334837|date=July 20, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> The rally was heavily supported by [[George Plaster]], then a sportscaster on [[WGFX]] 104.5 "The Zone" sports radio in Nashville. On August 1, 2007, the group released a letter of intent from Craig Leipold.<ref>{{cite news |title=Predators set to sell team to local group |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2957518 |access-date=May 28, 2017 |publisher=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=August 2, 2007}}</ref> After negotiations with the City of Nashville, the local group headed by David Freeman reached an agreement with [[List of mayors of Nashville, Tennessee|Mayor of Nashville]] [[Karl Dean]], and the NHL Board of Governors approved the sale on November 29, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/sale-of-predators-finalized-for-193m-us-1.689331|title=Sale of Predators finalized for $193M US|publisher=CBC/Radio-Canada|date=December 7, 2007|website=CBC.ca|accessdate=June 1, 2024}}</ref>

In June 2008, Del Biaggio ran into legal trouble over a multitude of unpaid loans, culminating in his filing for [[Chapter 11 bankruptcy]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2008/06/06/del-biaggio-files-for-bankruptcy/ | title=Del Biaggio files for bankruptcy | date=June 6, 2008}}</ref> Furthermore, it was alleged that Del Biaggio acquired the loans he used to buy his stake in the team through fraudulent means, prompting an [[FBI]] investigation and criminal charges.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Maki |first1=Allan |title=Del Biaggio's trials take another twist |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/del-biaggios-trials-take-another-twist/article18451727/ |access-date=May 29, 2017 |work=The Globe and Mail |date=June 13, 2008}}</ref> The charges culminated in a 97-month prison sentence for Del Biaggio. Under [[United States bankruptcy law]], a [[Bankruptcy trustee|trustee]] was appointed to sell Del Biaggio's assets, including his stake in the Predators, to pay off his creditors.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nashville reaches deal to consolidate ownership|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/nashville-reaches-deal-to-consolidate-ownership/article1388220/ |access-date=May 29, 2017 |work=The Globe and Mail |date=July 21, 2010}}</ref> In November 2011, it was announced that [[Calgary]] businessman [[W. Brett Wilson]] had purchased a 5% interest in the Nashville Predators.<ref>{{cite news |title=St. Denis takes rare path to NHL |url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/Denis+takes+rare+path/5723053/story.html |work=The Gazette |location=Montreal |date=November 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123180339/http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Denis%2Btakes%2Brare%2Bpath/5723053/story.html |archive-date=November 23, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On March 1, 2010, during the 2009–10 season, the Predators front office saw Freeman step down as chairman of the Nashville Predators in favor of Thomas Cigarran.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hoag |first1=Dirk |title=David Freeman steps down as chairman of the Nashville Predators |url=http://www.ontheforecheck.com/2010/3/1/1331542/david-freeman-steps-down-as |website=On the Forecheck |publisher=[[Vox Media, Inc]] |access-date=May 28, 2017 |date=March 1, 2010 |archive-date=March 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306142812/https://www.ontheforecheck.com/2010/3/1/1331542/david-freeman-steps-down-as |url-status=dead}}</ref> On September 2, Cigarran announced that the local ownership group had completed the purchase of the Del Biaggio stake.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hoag |first1=Dirk |title=Nashville Predators complete purchase of Boots Del Biaggio shares |url=http://www.ontheforecheck.com/2010/9/2/1666028/nashville-predators-complete |website=On the Forecheck |publisher=[[Vox Media, Inc.]] |access-date=May 28, 2017 |date=September 2, 2010 |archive-date=March 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306202731/https://www.ontheforecheck.com/2010/9/2/1666028/nashville-predators-complete |url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Ownership dispute====
On June 23, 2016, Freeman filed a $250&nbsp;million [[lawsuit]] against the Nashville Predators and Cigarran. His claim was that his ownership stake has been improperly diluted by Cigarran failing to notify him of [[capital call]]s, and that he had not received [[surety|loan guaranty]] fees that the ownership group had agreed to pay him.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rau |first1=Nate |title=Predators owner sues team, chairman for $250M|url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2016/06/23/predators-owner-files-suit-against-team-250m/86038666/|access-date=May 7, 2017|work=The Tennessean|date=June 23, 2016}}</ref> The lawsuit stated that Freeman initially owned a 48% share, while the holding company for the Nashville Predators stated that Freeman controlled less than 1% of ownership in the team at the time of the suit.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Steimer|first1=Jacob|title=Predators lawsuit sent back to arbitration, major win for team|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2016/07/29/predators-lawsuit-sent-back-to-arbitration-major.html|access-date=May 7, 2017|work=Nashville Business Journal|publisher=American City Business Journals|date=July 29, 2016}}</ref> This dilution was exacerbated by the existence of two classes of investments in the Predators: the common units owned by Freeman were subject to capital calls; the Series A units originally owned by Del Biaggio and his minority partner were not subject to capital calls.<ref>{{cite web|title=IN RE BIAGGIO {{!}} Case No. 08-30991 TEC, Adv. Proc. No. 12-3065 TEC.|url=http://www.leagle.com/decision/In%20BCO%2020121109588/IN%20RE%20BIAGGIO|website=Leagle.com|access-date=May 7, 2017|date=November 8, 2012}}</ref>

The dispute was sent to court-ordered [[Arbitration in the United States|arbitration]] on July 29, 2016, under the supervision of NHL commissioner [[Gary Bettman]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Barchenger|first1=Stacey|last2=Rau|first2=Nate|title=Judge rules in favor of Predators, Cigarran, arbitration|url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2016/07/29/judge-freemans-dispute-preds-stays-arbitration/87740340/|access-date=May 7, 2017|work=The Tennessean|date=July 29, 2016}}</ref> As of January 25, 2018, arbitration was continuing in the unresolved dispute.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cavendish|first1=Steve|title=Email Allegations in Preds Ownership Fight|url=https://www.nashvillescene.com/news/features/article/20990024/email-allegations-in-preds-ownership-fight|access-date=February 2, 2018|work=Nashville Scene|date=January 25, 2018}}</ref> The outcome may remain undisclosed, as the arbitration is private.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rau|first1=Nate|title=Nashville Predators to name Herb Fritch new chairman, replacing Tom Cigarran|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2018/04/25/nashville-predators-name-herb-fritch-new-chairman/550855002/|access-date=May 23, 2018|work=The Tennessean|date=April 25, 2018}}</ref>

====Bill Haslam purchases majority stake====
On June 17, 2022, the Predators announced that former [[Governor of Tennessee]] [[Bill Haslam]] would purchase shares in the club and become majority owner over the course of several years.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bill Haslam Slated to Acquire Ownership Stake in Nashville Predators |url=https://www.nhl.com/predators/news/bill-haslam-slated-to-acquire-ownership-stake-in-nashville-predators/c-334643794 |website=NHL.com |access-date=June 19, 2022}}</ref> Haslam's brother, [[Jimmy Haslam]], is the owner of the [[Cleveland Browns]] and the [[Columbus Crew]].