It’s 1971, and construction workers are digging beneath what’s now the UBS Tower on Deaderick Street in downtown Nashville. To their surprise, they uncover a cave system teeming with fossilized remains: ancient deer, horses, and even human bones. The site became known as the First American Cave, and the discovery was one of the most significant paleontological finds in Tennessee history.
Deep in the caves, scientists discovered the remains of a Smilodon fatalis, better known as a saber-toothed cat. The bones were estimated to be around 10,000 years old. For decades, the saber-tooth remains sat in the bank lobby as a strange but beloved piece of local trivia. When UBS took over in 2013, the bones were moved into storage.
Now, you’re probably wondering why I’m giving you an archaeology lesson on a hockey site. Well, without these bones, the Nashville Predators branding would look a lot different.
In 1997, Nashville landed an NHL expansion team, and the front office knew they wanted to draw inspiration from the city’s prehistoric past when creating the branding. Thus, the logo was born: a snarling Smilodon fatalis, ready to terrorize the central division.
Then came the problem of naming. The team took suggestions from the public, narrowing the finalists down to the Fury, the Edge, and the Ice Tigers. But none of these really delivered the bite the front office was looking for. After all, the Edge sounds better on a member of an Irish rock band than on a hockey team.
Team Owner at the time, Craig Leipold, stepped in and picked a name himself: the Predators. Not only was this a nod to the saber-tooth cat found in downtown Nashville, but it also represented the fear the front office wanted opponents to feel when stepping onto the ice with this new team.
So how about those bones? Whatever happened to those? In 2016, it was determined that the saber-tooth cat remains should go where they’re most needed: Bridgestone Arena, ready to inspire all of Smashville. Today, fans can check out the fossil near the arena’s visitor center.
If only they could figure out where its missing fang went…