NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- With Election Day seven days away, the mayoral candidates took a break from education and crime to talk about Nashville sports.

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Whether residents cheer on the Predators or the Sounds or neither, the next mayor will have to decide whether Nashville tax dollars will go toward their playing arenas.

Candidates Karl Dean and Bob Clement talked about the sporting landscape on 104.5 The Zone Tuesday.

Dean also made rounds at the Titans kickoff lunch but perhaps ironing out the future for the Predators will be the first sports goal for either man elected.

After the election, the local group bidding to buy the Predators is expected to ask taxpayers for at least $3 million to help keep the team in town.

“Taxpayers are concerned. They don’t want any additional burden, but at the same time, we have a vibrant downtown and the Predators are a big part of that,” Dean said.

“We don't have any money in the Metro budget this year or next year for the Preds, but I’ll do everything I can in terms of marketing the team,” Clement said.

The new mayor will also be dealing with the Nashville Sounds and their hopes for a downtown ballpark on city-owned property to replace the old Greer Stadium.

The same plans never came to fruition under Mayor Bill Purcell's administration. Clement and Dean said they're open to the idea if the Sounds bring a good offer to the table.

“I think that thermal site on the river where you can have green space access to the river, a beautiful stadium would be wonderful there, but it has got to work financially for the taxpayers,” Dean said.

“That’s prime property, and I know the administration had excluded baseball, but I’m not. I think we should look at all possibilities,” Clement said.

The men said they also expect racing to be a big issue during the first year in office.

Right now, there's a study in place to determine the best use of the fairgrounds, which could include short-track racing.

Clement and Dean will square off in one more debate before the election. The debate is set for Tuesday night on TSU’s campus at 7 p.m.

Special Mayoral Section