“It’s almost like our home crowds are the NHL crossed with the SEC: Just a sea of people, having a good time, going nuts watching a game, and — most of all — being extremely loud.” – Pekka Rinne

Arena: Bridgestone Arena (1996)

Location: Broadway, Downtown Nashville 

Game Attended: February 6, 2016 vs San Jose

Game Result: 6-2 Predators Win

Seat Location: Upstairs Corner

Overall Atmosphere: Fun, Energetic Crowd in a Fun, Energetic City

Of course, the first thought that comes to mind when you think of Nashville is country music, and deservedly so. It’s a mecca for country music, and every bar and restaurant you enter has AT LEAST one live band or singer performing a blend of popular covers and original tunes, hoping for that new record contract. But Nashville’s far more than singers with guitars. It’s a young, vibrant, and rapidly growing city full of great music, great food, and great hockey. Yes, you heard me right, Nashville is a GREAT hockey town.

Preds goalie Pekka Rinne said it best in a Players’ Tribune article during the 2017 Finals: “The fans were doing their part, for sure, and had turned this into a hockey city.” The fans of Nashville are proud of their team, and while the Predators have a small fraction of the history that the Canadiens or Maple Leafs or Rangers do, they are proud of their team, no matter what happens. That’s pretty cool to see, especially considering I grew up in a market full of boos and throwing snowballs at Santa.

Bridgestone Arena is like Madison Square Garden in that it’s the epitome of downtown. And it’s at the corner of Broadway and 5th Avenue, which could easily be mistaken for Midtown Manhattan. But swap out the $100 theater tickets for great BBQ and bars with live music, and you’ve got Nashville. Tons of great places within walking distance of the arena. For things to do, check out the Ryman Auditorium or the Country Music Hall of Fame, both within two blocks of the arena. And high school friend George, who lives in Nashville, recommends Biscuit Love or Pancake Pantry for a great breakfast or Martin’s Bar-Be-Cue Joint for authentic Southern eats. Tons of great bars on Broadway too, including Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, where country musicians performing at the Ryman escape to.

Oh right, this is a hockey blog, not a travel brochure. Okay, George and I attended a Saturday night game between two good Western Conference teams (Preds & Sharks), and it was packed! It’s on the smaller side of NHL arenas, at just over 17,000 seats, but Bridgestone doesn’t really feel small. It’s filled with tons of natural yellow and blue for the Preds, which gives the interior a cool, team-centric atmosphere. The Preds have hung flags of every NHL team from the rafters, which is a small but eye-catching feature in lieu of the litany of championship banners and retired numbers for this young franchise.

Now for the in-game commentary: the Predators fans brought a unique energy to the game. As Pekka Rinne mentioned, Preds fans are a cross between NHL fans and SEC football fans. And I noticed that fans got into little chants when power plays were announced, goals were scored, and the PA announcer gave the verbal one-minute warning (“Thanks Paul”). The Predators fans goal chant is a hybrid of the Devils‘ “Hey, you suck!” chant and Alabama’s “Rammer Jammer” chant, and the Kings‘ “goalie name” chant. And at the expense of the Penguins (which is always nice), the Nashville fans made that chant famous during the 2017 Finals. Still seems a little cheesy with all these chants, but it makes for a fun atmosphere.

Two more unique features of the arena experience. First, the Predators are like the Sharks in that there’s a giant inanimate creature that descends from the ceiling to provide a gateway for the players entering the game. You might call it…..a Predator. Cool, but I still prefer the San Jose shark. Second, the team provides entertainment during both intermissions: country music! There’s a stage behind one of the goals, and local bands perform sets during both the 1st and 2nd intermissions, which is a great idea for these bands to get exposure and to keep the fans entertained during a normally boring part of the evening.

Overall, Bridgestone Arena is a nice building with a fun and quirky atmosphere. The fans of Nashville are embracing their team’s recent success, and the city’s hockey IQ is growing. Some hockey purists might not think Nashville will ever be a great hockey city, but I say they’re off to a great start! Definitely a fun place to watch a game and enjoy a night on the town afterward!

Building: 4 / 5

Atmosphere: 4 / 5

Neighborhood: 5 / 5

Overall: 4.5 / 5