The Predators beat the Penguins 5-1 last night in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, and there was an atmosphere in Nashville the Final "has never experienced." More than 50,000 fans "stuffed Broadway" in downtown, with 17,283 "cramming into Bridgestone Arena" for the first ever Cup Final game there. Most fans were "in place when warmups began, continuing the city-wide celebration" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 6/4).
Country music star Alan Jackson played a pregame concert downtown, and the strip was "closed off to traffic for the special free concert." It was "packed with Predators fans nestled shoulder to shoulder in a sprawling, seemingly endless sea of gold." The city's "countless famous watering holes ... were absolutely bustling." ESPN NFL analyst Rex Ryan, who attended the game with his brother Rob, said, "This is the best building in the league" (ESPN.com, 6/3).
During the game, there was "as much energy as you will ever witness at a sporting event." NHL officials "have to be pleased with the outcome simply because it is very clear now that this could be a highly entertaining series featuring two energized fan bases" (
USATODAY.com, 6/4). Last night was the "biggest sports moment" Nashville "has seen" (
Nashville TENNESSEAN, 6/4). Predators fans were in "epic form" (
BUFFALO NEWS, 6/4). View a
slideshow from downtown Nashville before and after the game.
