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4 Best Things About Playoff Hockey in Nashville

By Jake Evans

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 10: The Nashville Predators starting line hold hands with Children's Hospital patients during the National Anthem on Hockey Fights Cancer night prior an NHL game against the New Jersey Devils at Bridgestone Arena on March 10, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 10: The Nashville Predators starting line hold hands with Children's Hospital patients during the National Anthem on Hockey Fights Cancer night prior an NHL game against the New Jersey Devils at Bridgestone Arena on March 10, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – JUNE 11: Predator fans celebrating pregame festivities on Broadway prior to game 6 of the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Finals between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators on June 11, 2017, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN. (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – JUNE 11: Predator fans celebrating pregame festivities on Broadway prior to game 6 of the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Finals between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators on June 11, 2017, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN. (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Party on Broadway

There is perhaps no other environment like it in the NHL. As 18,000+ fans filled Bridgestone Arena, sometimes an estimated 25,000 more filled the streets outside to cheer on the Predators. The largest crowds came during the Stanley Cup, however thousands poured into Broadway every night from Game 1 of the Chicago series, to Game 6 of the Finals.

The atmosphere outside the arena gives Nashville a unique characteristic that few others can boast. Fans love to watch the games from their favorite restaurants and bars, however, watching from their favorite restaurant or bar, less than a block from the arena is even better. The Predators even went so far as to put multiple screens outside on the streets for fans.

Last season, the Predators were 9-1-1 at home during the playoffs. So nine times last season, the 18,000 in the arena got to step outside after a win and celebrate with the thousands more waiting on Broadway.

As someone who experienced it, it really was one of the coolest things I’ve seen at a sporting event. The tremendous support that the team raises, and seeing how it manifests into city-wide parties is truly something special.

The playoffs start in less than a month, so those nights aren’t far off.

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