Nashville forum

[BlakChamber 8]

a hockey city must first consist of a large amount of hockey fans...this is where the core of your fanbase comes from. now stay with me there's more. a hockey city consists of a fanbase that follows it's team year round, not just in the playoffs. fans that understand the game are also important not a bunch of morons (and i draw this conclusion by reading some of there comments like we booed when fischer nearly died or how 3 cups in the past 10 yeard hasn't been successul, it's been dissappointing). lastly they haven't been around long enough to truly be considered a die hard hockeytown

If you read a lot of the proposed trade offers on this site, you'd be forced to conclude that Red Wings fans are a bunch of morons.

Pray tell, what are the hockey cities in the US? I'd say Minneapolis-St Paul, Detroit, and Boston are the only US cities you could call hockey cities. You've got other cities have strong followings, the NY teams do well, Philly maybe. But I wouldn't consider them a hockey city.

And honestly, If the the Wings had to compete with a winning Tigers and Lions team, I think the Wings would fall to the number 3 team in the city.

Boy, 3 cities out of the entire country. Damn Nashville for not being able to be a hockey city.

[Kp-Wings 3]

If you read a lot of the proposed trade offers on this site, you'd be forced to conclude that Red Wings fans are a bunch of morons.

Williams, Lilja, and a first round draft pick for... *shot*

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

a hockey city must first consist of a large amount of hockey fans...this is where the core of your fanbase comes from. now stay with me there's more. a hockey city consists of a fanbase that follows it's team year round, not just in the playoffs. fans that understand the game are also important not a bunch of morons (and i draw this conclusion by reading some of there comments like we booed when fischer nearly died or how 3 cups in the past 10 yeard hasn't been successul, it's been dissappointing). lastly they haven't been around long enough to truly be considered a die hard hockeytown

the point about being a hockey city is somewhat valid, but a lot of them already have teams. At least the ones that are big enough cities.

Your comment about fans that understand the game is weak. Were you born with an innate knowledge of the game? New fans deserve the chance to learn the game and its nuances.

And drawing your conclusion from a handful of comments on a preds board isn't exactly a fair way to evaluate a fan base. We've got a fair share of idiots here too, and this is "hockeytown."

I honestly don't know if the Preds will succeed in Nashville. It seems like an odd choice for a market. But a lot of us hockey fans seem to want the game to be more popular but at the same time have a snobby attitude towards a potential new fan base.

How can you hold the lenght of time they've been around against an expansion team? Of course they haven't been around long! That's gonna be the same with any new team. You're honestly going to look down on them because they're new? A team needs time to develop and identity and history.

and while we're at it, "hockeytown" is nothing more than a good marketing slogan by the Illitches. Back when the Wings stunk, the arena was empty. And after the first Cup win, the fan base got huge. And on t.v. some games I see tons of empty seats and the place as quiet as a library.

If the Wings missed the playoffs a couple years in a row, then we'll see how many die-hard fans there are here in Hockeytown™.

Edited March 8, 2007 by haroldsnepsts

[BlakChamber 8]

But a lot of us hockey fans seem to want the game to be more popular but at the same time have a snobby attitude towards a potential new fan base.

That attitude is shared among far too many hockey fans, especially fans of either Canadian teams or established American teams, such as the Wings. And it pisses me off.

They ***** and moan that hockey isn't popular in the US, that ESPN and the rest of the media ignores hockey.

But at the same time, they want to limit the NHL to Canada, the northeast and the upper midwest.

You can't have it both ways.

[Legionnaire11 0]

Nashville has more hockey history than most people outside of town realize.

Dixie Flyers

South Stars

Knights

Nighthawks and Ice Flyers

[vandypred 0]

a hockey city must first consist of a large amount of hockey fans...this is where the core of your fanbase comes from. now stay with me there's more. a hockey city consists of a fanbase that follows it's team year round, not just in the playoffs. fans that understand the game are also important not a bunch of morons (and i draw this conclusion by reading some of there comments like we booed when fischer nearly died or how 3 cups in the past 10 yeard hasn't been successul, it's been dissappointing). lastly they haven't been around long enough to truly be considered a die hard hockeytown

But how do we get hockey fans? We have to have a hockey team. Your logic is essentially asking for the chicken to come before the egg in this case. We do have a fanbase that follows the team year-round and is growing. Yes it's a newer team in a non-traditional market; but it is growing. A sucessful team if properly marketed will do well here. We currently have a cruddy marketing guy right now in Steve Violetta the came from the San Diego Padres that tends to turn off local businessmen and turn the local media against him and the team to an extent. Hopefully we'll have some one better very soon.

Plus major league professional sports teams are new to Nashville and local companies don't necessarily see the tickets as business tools; but as luxuries. They get Titans season tickets because they are on Sundays and don't affect their business schedules. The don't think about taking clients to a game in general. Seems like a no brainer to me; but its not my money either.

My next question is: Would you consider St. Louis a good hockey town? Before you answer that, let me refresh some history about the Blues from the early '80's. The Blues had been in the league for 12-13 years at the time and the newness had long worn-off, attendance was sagging, had competed for a Presidents Trophy w/ the Islanders in '81 with a quick exit from the playoffs happening each year, and the then-owners Ralston-Purina (you know them from Dog Chow and Cat Chow) was looking to dump them even though they had a talented group with Joey Mullen, Doug Gilmour, Bernie Federko, and Brian Sutter among others. They were pegged to move to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan as a result of RP trying to sell to a group there until the NHL stepped and barred the sale and move to Saskatchewan until Harry Ornest stepped in and bought the Blues and kept them there. I was worried that I would have to start like the Flyers or something as a kid in STL. Heck when Detroit rolled into the then-Checkerdome in those years, they were horrible and fought all of the time it seemed, so y'all weren't an option.

I see a lot of similarities in the plight of both franchises'; but Nashville seems more way stable than the Blues did because Leipold doesn't want to dump the team but rather get a local partner(s) to help increase corporate sales. The turmoil of the possible relocation prompted younger fans to attend games and eventually these folks had kids that became hockey fans if not Blues fans.

15-20 years later they were considered one of the strongest markets in the NHL.

I see the seeds of that starting to happen here. It just takes time.

Good knowledgable fanbases are built over time. Geez, how long have the Wings been around? Like since the 1920's? You have to be patient w/ young children because they often feel bullet-proof, make rash generalizations as a result of inexperience, and get caught up in the moment. k?

[Sentonial Debut 0]

exactly within time you may become a hockey city but as of this point you can't be. and yes there aren't very many hockey citites in the U.S.

[IceMunkee 15]

This is an example of the nature of Nashville fans. A true story that happened to me on Feb. 24th. I hate the Predators all from this happening.

This past Friday I traveled from Garden City, MI to Nashville, TN t watch a game in the Gaylord Ent Center on Saturday night. After 9 hours of traveling and a night of hardcore county bar drinking we attended the game Saturday night. I sat right in the center of Predators season ticket holder terratory. My lady and myself looked forward to the game for 2 weeks. In the first 10 minutes of sitting we were told repeatidly to go home and to take off our jersey's or we will, "Get it!" Among my friends that I normally attend away games with I am not considered quiet by any means, so ofcourse I did not hold my tounge. Nor was I rude, hell it was only me and my girl.

To make a long story short, throught the game we were sneered, mocked and ridiculed. Not in a friendly compitition way either. They called my girl a **** and her jersey reprsented a ***** house light! I wento use the bathroom and recieved paper towel, wet, dirty, paper towel thrown at me repeatidly. I am a cocky wings fan like most so by mid second period I started talking back. The man said t me he can't believe that their greatest rival's were sitting right next to him. So I stood, a little nervous, and made a speech. "Your greatest rivals...PLEASE! In the 9.5 years you have had a team in your inbreed town we have proudly lifted 3 Stanely Cups!" I took a moment and asked if there was any questions as to what a stanel cup was. At this point I had beer cups thrown at me and pretty sure called eve name in the book. I then said, "Your team is nothing but a pesky misquito on our shoulder." I was booed so hard that my friends on te other side of the arena heard it! I quieted with nervousness that I wouldn't walk out, I would probably be handcuffed or stomped Pistons style.

Between the second period we were followed through te breezeway and ridiculed the whole team. Some druk guy with two teeth stopped and yelled in my face... "You suck! Your team sucks! Go home!" Then he spit aa nasty snot filled ball of ooze on my Yzerman jersey.

I ave never been treated so pourly in my life. I never had to restrain so hard from fighting! I am just wondering how many others have experianced this. I have been to a few games in the Joe and never treated and opposing fans so badly. I am glad that we as fans are better people.

I think that teams like Nashville should respect where they came from. Respect that we are a pillar of the NHL. And they should damn sure respect my Yzerman sweater!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry about the spelling. Very happy to be a member of the greatest fan base in pro sports.

[betterREDthandead 58]

exactly within time you may become a hockey city but as of this point you can't be. and yes there aren't very many hockey citites in the U.S.

OK, so, we hold that against Nashville because.........??

[Donaldjr2448 43]

http://boards.nashvillepredators.com/forum...=5517&st=20

is this true? I dont remember this and if so the fans obviously didn't know how serious it was.

Well I can teel you all this, If is wasn't for the Redwings The Preds wouldn't even be around, because the only game they can pack their arena is when the Wings comedown and 7000 of the fans are wearing Red and White, so they should be hanging from our nutsacks. I just can't believe that someone said Nick should be in the minors!!! If thats the case Kayria should be in Figure Skating!!!! Oh yeah and I will be attending the game here in Nashville next tuesday and I will be wearing my Wings Jersey and Hat, I dare anyone of those fags to say ANYTHING to me!!!!!

[vandypred 0]

This is an example of the nature of Nashville fans. A true story that happened to me on Feb. 24th. I hate the Predators all from this happening.

This past Friday I traveled from Garden City, MI to Nashville, TN t watch a game in the Gaylord Ent Center on Saturday night. After 9 hours of traveling and a night of hardcore county bar drinking we attended the game Saturday night. I sat right in the center of Predators season ticket holder terratory. My lady and myself looked forward to the game for 2 weeks. In the first 10 minutes of sitting we were told repeatidly to go home and to take off our jersey's or we will, "Get it!" Among my friends that I normally attend away games with I am not considered quiet by any means, so ofcourse I did not hold my tounge. Nor was I rude, hell it was only me and my girl.

To make a long story short, throught the game we were sneered, mocked and ridiculed. Not in a friendly compitition way either. They called my girl a **** and her jersey reprsented a ***** house light! I wento use the bathroom and recieved paper towel, wet, dirty, paper towel thrown at me repeatidly. I am a cocky wings fan like most so by mid second period I started talking back. The man said t me he can't believe that their greatest rival's were sitting right next to him. So I stood, a little nervous, and made a speech. "Your greatest rivals...PLEASE! In the 9.5 years you have had a team in your inbreed town we have proudly lifted 3 Stanely Cups!" I took a moment and asked if there was any questions as to what a stanel cup was. At this point I had beer cups thrown at me and pretty sure called eve name in the book. I then said, "Your team is nothing but a pesky misquito on our shoulder." I was booed so hard that my friends on te other side of the arena heard it! I quieted with nervousness that I wouldn't walk out, I would probably be handcuffed or stomped Pistons style.

Between the second period we were followed through te breezeway and ridiculed the whole team. Some druk guy with two teeth stopped and yelled in my face... "You suck! Your team sucks! Go home!" Then he spit aa nasty snot filled ball of ooze on my Yzerman jersey.

I ave never been treated so pourly in my life. I never had to restrain so hard from fighting! I am just wondering how many others have experianced this. I have been to a few games in the Joe and never treated and opposing fans so badly. I am glad that we as fans are better people.

I think that teams like Nashville should respect where they came from. Respect that we are a pillar of the NHL. And they should damn sure respect my Yzerman sweater!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry about the spelling. Very happy to be a member of the greatest fan base in pro sports.

Sorry you were treated badly here.

Unfortunatley Detroit is a name in hockey that brings in fans that have a casual understanding of hockey from 'Slap Shot'. I'm a transplant here from STL and have seen that sort of behavior at Blues-Blackhawks games too; so don't just isolate that kind of behavior just to Nashville. STL fans can be vicious as I was formerly one myself. Idiots are everywhere; but you do remember it most when it happens to you. I never trash visiting fans personally; but will chide them a bit and expect it back.

But also whenever I'm in someone else's building wearing the enemy sweater, I try to be humble and respectful because its their house. I've seen a lot of Wings fans walk in like they own the place here too. A few beers in someone makes them more apt to be beligerant and a Wings jersey and association w/ those previous Wings fans can lead to an unfortunate incident.

[BlakChamber 8]

I've been to a Pred/Wings game wearing a Wings jersey and didn't have a single problem.

[IceMunkee 15]

I definitly agree. This experiance is one in 5 games that I have been too. I used to stationed at Ft Campbell and loved the games. I used to love the preds. I will definitly go back, to prove something I guess. Hands down downtown Nashville is a great place to party and visit. I absolutly loved my stay besides for that period of time. I tried to make casual conversation with fans around me but to no evail. I truly just love the game and love the compitition. I love the Red Wings. The thing that I have always found funny in 5 years of going to games at the GEC is that Nashville advertising forced the rivalry to attract fans. They spend countless dollars bashing and making fun of the wings! I always felt that was childish but necessary to gain fans. They go as far as paying a band to perform a Red Wings Suck song between periods. I also went to the game on tuesday night here in the Hockeytown (can we get some better parking options?) and the differance is uncanny. The preds have all this pop and fizzel and when a pred scores they have a chant that does not even congradulate the player who scored or the play it is another Red Wings suck chant. The wings had nothing but a shirt shooter, and honest cheering for the game. There was a couple annoying fans close to me that had there been a pred fan in the area he would have been heckled, though that is about it. The differance between the to teams fan base and environments is crazy, the compitition always good. My thoughts~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Statts 4]

Wow, quite the experience you had Munkee! A little heckling and what not is ok, if it is done in good fun. It sounded like your safety was in jeopardy and maybe a visit to security to make it known would have helped. The spitting was definitely out of line. You’re a bigger man than I, If that was me somebody would have left in cuffs.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I've been to a Pred/Wings game wearing a Wings jersey and didn't have a single problem.

Was it in Detroit?

[Legionnaire11 0]

Hey IceMunkee, what section were you sitting in?

[Kp-Wings 3]

I definitly agree. This experiance is one in 5 games that I have been too. I used to stationed at Ft Campbell and loved the games. I used to love the preds. I will definitly go back, to prove something I guess. Hands down downtown Nashville is a great place to party and visit. I absolutly loved my stay besides for that period of time. I tried to make casual conversation with fans around me but to no evail. I truly just love the game and love the compitition. I love the Red Wings. The thing that I have always found funny in 5 years of going to games at the GEC is that Nashville advertising forced the rivalry to attract fans. They spend countless dollars bashing and making fun of the wings! I always felt that was childish but necessary to gain fans. They go as far as paying a band to perform a Red Wings Suck song between periods. I also went to the game on tuesday night here in the Hockeytown (can we get some better parking options?) and the differance is uncanny. The preds have all this pop and fizzel and when a pred scores they have a chant that does not even congradulate the player who scored or the play it is another Red Wings suck chant. The wings had nothing but a shirt shooter, and honest cheering for the game. There was a couple annoying fans close to me that had there been a pred fan in the area he would have been heckled, though that is about it. The differance between the to teams fan base and environments is crazy, the compitition always good. My thoughts~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sounds more like an Avalanche crowd to me. I do believe you though. Most teams (and fans!) really have it in for the Wings.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

That attitude is shared among far too many hockey fans, especially fans of either Canadian teams or established American teams, such as the Wings. And it pisses me off.

They ***** and moan that hockey isn't popular in the US, that ESPN and the rest of the media ignores hockey.

But at the same time, they want to limit the NHL to Canada, the northeast and the upper midwest.

You can't have it both ways.

QUOTED FOR TRUTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[betterREDthandead 58]

Here we go again...............Why don't you apply for a job with Gary?

Touchy, aren't we? I wasn't even talking to you and you got something to say. Congratulations on your crusade for the right of people everywhere to make bad jokes and derogatory statements about a large group of people. Bet that's winning you a lot of followers

[Statiklullaby87 0]

The fact that there's a Hockey 101 thread on their site is a good thing. How does we expect the NHL to do well and grow its following among new fans in new cities if there's no way at all to learn the game?

Edited March 9, 2007 by Statiklullaby87

[Sentonial Debut 0]

This is an example of the nature of Nashville fans. A true story that happened to me on Feb. 24th. I hate the Predators all from this happening.

This past Friday I traveled from Garden City, MI to Nashville, TN t watch a game in the Gaylord Ent Center on Saturday night. After 9 hours of traveling and a night of hardcore county bar drinking we attended the game Saturday night. I sat right in the center of Predators season ticket holder terratory. My lady and myself looked forward to the game for 2 weeks. In the first 10 minutes of sitting we were told repeatidly to go home and to take off our jersey's or we will, "Get it!" Among my friends that I normally attend away games with I am not considered quiet by any means, so ofcourse I did not hold my tounge. Nor was I rude, hell it was only me and my girl.

To make a long story short, throught the game we were sneered, mocked and ridiculed. Not in a friendly compitition way either. They called my girl a **** and her jersey reprsented a ***** house light! I wento use the bathroom and recieved paper towel, wet, dirty, paper towel thrown at me repeatidly. I am a cocky wings fan like most so by mid second period I started talking back. The man said t me he can't believe that their greatest rival's were sitting right next to him. So I stood, a little nervous, and made a speech. "Your greatest rivals...PLEASE! In the 9.5 years you have had a team in your inbreed town we have proudly lifted 3 Stanely Cups!" I took a moment and asked if there was any questions as to what a stanel cup was. At this point I had beer cups thrown at me and pretty sure called eve name in the book. I then said, "Your team is nothing but a pesky misquito on our shoulder." I was booed so hard that my friends on te other side of the arena heard it! I quieted with nervousness that I wouldn't walk out, I would probably be handcuffed or stomped Pistons style.

a pesky mosquito? nice speech, makes me glad that i'm a wings fan and know the meaning of the word class

[Statiklullaby87 0]

I think that teams like Nashville should respect where they came from. Respect that we are a pillar of the NHL. And they should damn sure respect my Yzerman sweater!!!!!!!!!!!

Thats why they hate us... LOL

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

Well I agree with the respect Yzerman part. I can deal with Wings-haters just fine, but for some reason when someone starts talking s*** about Stevie Y, it's like your talking s*** about family.

[SFwingsfan 23]

I have been lurking on here for years but I felt it was time to trash Nashville a little bit going in to the playoffs. The notion that Nashville is anything close to a "hockey city" is totally absurd. The only place you need to look to prove this is ESPN.COM and NHL.COM where all the official attendance numbers are reported. This franchise should never have been started in this city period. Just another prime example of the league over-expanding. If this team can't bring out the fans this season how can they really hope it will survive at all in the long term?

Let's take a quick look at the attendance data....

The Nashville Predators rank 21st overall in attendance if you figure it as a % of capacity. And by using this statistic I am really giving them the benefit of the doubt because they have one of the smaller arenas in the league at 17,113. That means they have to sell almost 3,000 less tickets than the Red Wings to get a sellout. Add to that the fact that the numbers these struggling teams report to the league are often heavily inflated by group tickets sold to corporations or sponsors at a major discount. Sure, Nashville fans will point out all the empty seats at JLA on a given night. They might be empty, but for the most part these are 100% full price season tickets that simply are going unused. That being said let's check out some recent Nashville games. Keep in mind this is a team that is being considered as a possible favorite to win the cup this year....

1/9/07 VS Anaheim 11,821*

1/18/07 VS Columbus 10,927

2/8/07 VS Toronto 15,018*

2/14/07 VS San Jose 13,836*

2/19/07 VS Phoenix 15,862

2/22/07 VS Montreal 15,808*

*I think these games are the most disturbing. Original six teams that show up once every 3 years and top rivals, just pathetic.

As someone who has been on skates and a fan of the game since I was 5 I really have to wonder how this league can truly be succesful in the long run in markets like Nashville if their fans can't even support the team when it is doing fantastic in the standings. Just another reason why I hope we steamroll these fools in the playoffs. Their fans and the city of Nashville simply don't deserve a long run at the cup and it's questionable if they even deserve to have a team period. And please, don't even make me bring up the local TV broadcast ratings, ouch! Sure...."hockey city" sure.

Edited March 9, 2007 by SFwingsfan

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

I have been lurking on here for years but I felt it was time to trash Nashville a little bit going in to the playoffs. The notion that Nashville is anything close to a "hockey city" is totally absurd. The only place you need to look to prove this is ESPN.COM and NHL.COM where all the official attendance numbers are reported. This franchise should never have been started in this city period. Just another prime example of the league over-expanding. If this team can't bring out the fans this season how can they really hope it will survive at all in the long term?

Let's take a quick look at the attendance data....

The Nashville Predators rank 21st overall in attendance if you figure it as a % of capacity. And by using this statistic I am really giving them the benefit of the doubt because they have one of the smaller arenas in the league at 17,113. That means they have to sell almost 3,000 less tickets than the Red Wings to get a sellout. Add to that the fact that the numbers these struggling teams report to the league are often heavily inflated by group tickets sold to corporations or sponsors at a major discount. Sure, Nashville fans will point out all the empty seats at JLA on a given night. They might be empty, but for the most part these are 100% full price season tickets that simply are going unused. That being said let's check out some recent Nashville games. Keep in mind this is a team that is being considered as a possible favorite to win the cup this year....

1/9/07 VS Anaheim 11,821*

1/18/07 VS Columbus 10,927

2/8/07 VS Toronto 15,018*

2/14/07 VS San Jose 13,836*

2/19/07 VS Phoenix 15,862

2/22/07 VS Montreal 15,808*

*I think these games are the most disturbing.

As someone who has been on skates and a fan of the game since I was 5 I really have to wonder how this league can truly be succesful in the long run in markets like Nashville if their fans can't even support the team when it is doing fantastic in the standings. Just another reason why I hope we steamroll these fools in the playoffs. Their fans and the city of Nashville simply don't deserve a long run at the cup and it's questionable if they even deserve to have a team period.

Cry me a rant.

Just because Detroit has been around the league long and Nashville has only been in the league for roughly a decade doesn't mean you have to sound like an elitest snob because the Red Wings have more of a history/team to refer to.

You have to start from somewhere, and Nashville has slowly and surely gotten better over the years.

Contrary to popular belief, hockey can exist in the Sun Belt.