Nashville Predators: Time Has Come to Host the NHL Winter Classic
By Chad Minton
The Nashville Predators have recently accomplished a lot of historic milestones, like the Stanley Cup Final birth. Now it’s time to take it outdoors.
A lot of talk is occurring about the next big step for the Nashville Predators, outside of hoisting a Stanley Cup. It’s truly quite amazing on what this once expansion team has accomplished just shy of 20 years of age.
Two enormous events in recent years that have put the Nashville Predators in the top-tier of the NHL; making the Stanley Cup Final and hosting a wildly successful All Star game.
The Predators are a great story for the NHL. They show the parody in the league, and that teams outside of the original six can make crazy postseason runs. To keep expanding and broadening the interest in the NHL, the league has to showcase these other great franchises, like the Predators.
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It’s Time For an Outdoor Game in Nashville
With this in mind, it’s time for the Predators and the city of Nashville to host a Winter Classic. Usually these outdoor games are for the classic franchises like the Chicago Blackhawks. Why not pit one of these historically great franchises against the Predators in Nashville? We know the opposing fans will show up in full force, as will Predators fans.
We all know Nashville’s track record when it comes to throwing a party. If the Winter Classic comes to Nashville, the city will exceed expectations, much like the festivities in 2016 for the NHL All Star Game. Last season’s Stanley Cup Final appearance created new fans outside of Nashville, and plenty of haters. That’s what you need to host big games like this on a national stage, while staying relevant.
Honorable Mention
A consolation prize to hosting a Winter Classic will be to host an outdoor game in the Stadium Series. It’s not on the same scale as the Winter Classic, but still an outdoor game nonetheless. This is the NHL’s way of getting more games outdoors, and increasing interest.
Rumblings of the idea to put the Predators in East Tennessee at the 100K-plus Neyland Stadium has been thrown out there, per Dan Harralson of Saturday Down South. Cool idea, but no way the NHL moves the Predators out of their comfy home of Nashville and puts them in an even smaller market with virtually no history of hockey. The visual of a half-full Neyland Stadium would also not be appealing for the NHL or the Predators organization. Filling up Nissan Stadium is an easier feat, and still has the same impact.
Some may think that Nashville doesn’t get cold enough to host an outdoor hockey game. This is mostly false as the months of January and February will provide the perfect temperatures for an outdoor game.
The fact that the Predators have yet to play in a Winter Classic is bothersome. Over half the league has a Winter Classic appearance under their belt. I understand the premise of reserving these games for the franchises with rich histories, but the league needs to build new fans for up and coming franchises.
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The passionate Nashville Predators fans are answering the call to the success the team is having on the ice. They’re selling out games, creating a distinctive home-ice advantage and gaining the attention of the national pundits. There’s no doubt that the support for a Winter Classic will have a ton of support if it happens.
As far as I’m concerned, the last few seasons have cemented Nashville as a true hockey town. The time is now to get them an outdoor game and get the Nashville honky tonks rocking in the dead of winter.