February 11, 2012
Predator Hockey – Finally A Winning Team for Smashville!
- Dixie Flyers
What most don’t realize is Nashville isn’t new to the hockey market. Hockey teams have called Nashville home long before the Predators came along. Way back in the early 60s there was minor league team Dixie Flyers(note the yellow jerseys) which had a good nine season run. Then, there were the South Stars, the Knights, the Nighthawks (Ice Flyers) all played at the Municipal Auditorium, which basically sucks as a venue. Ice hockey took a nap after the Knights left. Yes, there was still hockey but it was hardly a calendar event for Nashvillians.
When the NHL announced Nashville as an expansion city for the league, many Nashvillians were stunned. Investors had just finished the new NFL stadium for the Oilers. The regional sports teams were already nervous. College sports, as the only game in town, per se, are just as popular, and a huge money makers, as pro teams elsewhere. There are only so many “entertainment” dollars a family can spend. Nashville is a huge sports city, even though many teams are 3-4 hours away. Nashvillians support Vanderbilt, University of Tennessee football and basketball programs, (probably UK teams, too), Atlanta Braves, and the Houston/Tennessee Oilers/Tennessee Titans. Introducing an ice hockey team into that mix was a risk. Many people thought the team would not make it because history seemed to be determined to repeat itself. The difference was one small, seemingly unrelated factor – Western Central Division, dominated by the Detroit Red Wings.
In the 1990s an automobile manufacturing plant came to the farm community of Spring Hill, Tennessee. The Saturn plant hired many workers from Red Wing country. This was the start of Nashville’s NHL ice hockey fan base. Yes, there were pockets of die-hard hockey fans closer to Nashville, but this was a huge block of potential fans. The majority of plant workers didn’t care about college sports like the rest of Tennesseans did. The new Tennessee residents had bucket load of “entertainment” dollars waiting to be spent. Why not on a NHL hockey franchise?
The first season of Predator hockey were interesting to say the least. Everyone sat quietly watching the games like a tennis match, politely clapping when Preds scored. There were a few fans, me included, that would yell at the players and the refs. We’d get dirty looks from the spectators for yelling mild profanity at the players. During one game, the D-man failed miserably on clearing the puck on a penalty kill that ended up in our net. As he skated to the bench, I yelled, “you suck.” It was so quiet in the arena the player heard me and gave me a death stare. As the season went on, the marketing wizards decided it would be good to teach fans the game of hockey. During intermission, and before the games, there were “lessons” on various aspects of the game. I still snicker when the Preds go on the power play. “The Predators are…on…the….POWERPLAY”. Early on Cellblock 303, nickname for section 303, played a huge role converting “spectators” into fans. All the crowd chants originated in section 303. Check them out at www.cellblock303.c0m
Two major things happened along the way. The biggest boost to the fan base occurred in 2004 when GM bought Saturn. When these automotive workers came to town, they were, and many still are, hardcore Detroit Red Wings fans. Having Nashville in the same division as Detroit was pinnacle to further developing the division rivalry. When the Red Wings are in town, Nashville becomes The Biggest Hockey Town in North America. Win or lose, it’s always a great night for Predator hockey.
The other major aspect was subtle and in existence from the beginning of Predator hockey, like a deep water current. It is the culture and philosophy adopted by the Nashville Predators’ front office. Nashville is a city of change, but only after a great deal of thought. Being so close to Atlanta, we have seen what hyper growth can do to a city. Nashville is a large city, but still hold onto its small town roots. Unlike many NHL teams in other markets, the Predators bought into the slow, but forward moving attitude the city embraces. The Predators have had only one coach, Barry Trotz. How many teams can say their coach has been around for 13 seasons? Our first ever draft pick (2nd overall), David Legwand, is still on the team. Nashvillians want to be able to see the same players every year and develop a fan-ship with those players. This is the key for any professional team’s success in Nashville.
Those are the main reasons why Predator hockey is successful in Nashville. The team fits the Nashville culture perfectly. People are puzzled that we would give our team a standing ovation after a second round playoff loss to the Vancouver Canucks. They don’t see the beauty of a sea of yellow in the stands. They don’t understand that Predator hockey is a different type of hockey. It’s unexpected comebacks, versatile line juggling, heart in your throat hockey…every game … for the last 13 years. I hope it never changes!
Gold Out Night
oddthat 