While the Predators' run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs "certainly has been a boost for the team’s prestige, it also has become a marketing bonanza" for the team and its sponsors, according to G. Chambers Williams III of the Nashville TENNESSEAN. The Predators host the Canucks tonight at Bridgestone Arena in Game Four of their Western Conference Semifinals series, and fans are "snapping up merchandise commemorating the playoff run, including T-shirts -- the best-selling item." In addition, team sponsors said that "some of the Preds' playoff marketing efforts have been quite novel." The promotional efforts included "free gold T-shirts draped across all of the seats in Bridgestone Arena, waiting for the fans when they arrived for Tuesday night’s game." The shirts were “emblazoned with sponsors’ names on one side” and the Predators’ playoff slogan, “Stand With Us,” on the other side. Bridgestone Americas VP/Consumer Marketing Phil Pacsi said, “It’s a great time to be a sponsor not only of the venue, but the team itself, as history is being made every day during the playoffs.” Pacsi said that for tonight's game, Bridgestone “will hand out noisemakers.” Also, Land Rover of Nashville sponsored Tuesday’s Playoff Plaza Party and “will do it again before tonight’s game.” Dealership owner Nelson Andrews said, “This playoff run is something special, and while we’ve had to dig deeper into our marketing budget to be a part of it, we were glad to do it" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 5/5).
SHOW ME THE MONEY: In Nashville, Joe Biddle notes the NHL’s new media rights deal with NBC and Versus means “more money for NHL teams.” Predators broadcaster Pete Weber predicted that “under the current TV money formula, the Predators can get a fourth- or fifth-line defenseman.” He added, “I think with the new deal it could allow the Predators to get a second- or first-line player. It will be a huge financial leap for Nashville." Predators President & COO Sean Henry said, “From a business side, the economics, it’s tremendous for us. It’s tremendous to see our national deal grow so significantly." Biddle writes while the "future looks brighter after the new contract goes into effect next season, they need to do something about the start times, especially when it comes to the Stanley Cup playoffs.” In the first two rounds of this year's playoffs, fans “have been subjected to starting times as late" as 9:00pm CT. Biddle: “I would hope the new contract would enable NBC/Versus to make starting times more palatable, especially when it comes to Stanley Cup playoff games” (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 5/5).
