I grew up in Detroit, and thought that I knew hockey towns from just the legacy of the Wings - and really all of the original six teams. But Nashville takes this whole hockey thing to an entertainment level that's just off the charts. Even if you're not a Nashville fan, if you're close enough to come in for a playoff game night; do it. Don't worry about having tickets to the game or even a plan - find some parking down on Broadway, start at the riverfront and walk toward the arena. I about guarantee you'll stop somewhere in there and never make it to the arena, possibly won't even leave the waterfront. They've got watching parties all over downtown, open air and in the honkeytonks and restaurants, and the fans are just eating it up. The music scene is behind it providing all kinds of live music and the atmosphere is just fantastic.
As we approach the playoffs themselves, we'll be into the zone for the music festival, and they'll have stages setup downtown. Live music during the day, thousands of visitors and all of the stage screens will run the game live.
And they're still selling out the arena.
Hockey in the south ... who'da' thunkit?
