The Nashville Predators may soon be rewarded by the NHL with an outdoor game for their incredible season and loud, passionate fans. Gary Bettman recently stated that the league is considering a future outdoor game in Nashville due to previously successful events and the big impression Predators fans have made this year.
Bettman’s comments, heard on 104.5 The Zone, mention the city successfully hosting the 2016 NHL All-Star Game as well as the 2003 NHL Draft along with the incredible support from the fans.
“It is something we’re going to be looking at because as we had a wonderful draft, a spectacular All-Star Game, both in Nashville. The building is as loud, if not louder, than any building in the league. The fans are great, they have developed their own special traditions and ways of watching the game.”
Currently, the NHL has two outdoor games scheduled for 2017-18 including the Winter Classic in New York as well as the 2017 Scotiabank NHL100 Classic in Ottawa.
At the beginning of the year, it was widely reported that the NHL would host three outdoor games in 2017-18 regardless of their decision on the Olympics.
Bettman says he thinks the league will likely stage three outdoor games next season regardless of the Olympic decision
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) January 1, 2017
Will Nashville be the third outdoor game added to the mix? Given their wild success and some truly insane ticket prices in the playoffs, Nashville might be a prime destination for the NHL to further expand its brand with another major event.
The league has been widely criticized for reusing the same cities and teams for outdoor games, so adding in the Predators would be a breath of fresh air for those who aren’t already tired of hearing about the Preds during their current playoff run.
