NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Herb Fritch wanted to start a transition away from his role as chairman of the Nashville Predators, and he saw a former Tennessee governor as the perfect person to take over as majority owner.

"We're stable financially, we're stable here," Fritch said Thursday. "We've got a longer lease, and now it's just finding a majority owner that'll keep going longer than I would have and just be a good steward ... and I think we've done that. I'm really excited as a fan to see this transition. I think it's a great thing for the city and the franchise."

News broke a week ago that Bill Haslam will start buying some of Fritch's shares in a deal that won't be finalized until this fall. The former governor will buy a majority of Fritch's shares over the next three years and finally become the majority owner at that point. A purchase price has not been disclosed for a franchise valued recently at $680 million by Sportico.