Since the Nashville Predators have punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup Finals, city officials have worked hard with NHL officials, the Nashville Predators organization, and CMA to make sure the cup goes off without a hitch all while CMA Fest is scheduled to take place during a potential game 5 and game 6.
A potential game 5 will be on the road on Thursday of CMA Fest, while a potential game 6 would be in Nashville on the Sunday of CMA Fest.
“It takes the complete cooperation of the Preds, the CMA, the city, all the city departments, our office, and the talent we may tap,” Butch Spyridon, CEO of Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp, said of the planning of June’s events. “Everybody sees this opportunity to really make Nashville shine.”
The CMT Awards have already been moved to Music City Center from Bridgestone Arenadue to a possible conflict with the Stanley Cup Finals, but now CMA Fest and the Stanley Cup Finals will have to find a way to coexist, with viewing parties expected for game 5 and game 6, in addition to the potential 17,000 people packing into Bridgestone for a game 6.
“We want to elevate the outside experience just like the Preds have elevated inside,” Spyridon said of the experience they’re working to create for viewing parties, adding that there’s the possibility of having concerts with the Stanley Cup parties.
Spyridon said it’s also an opportunity to get more people interested in hockey, and more people also interested in Nashville, with the city being on the international stage, even with the games before CMA Fest officially begins.
“Normally the CMA fans start arriving on the Saturday before, and certainly by Monday, the majority will be there, and we have an obligation to convert them to Preds fans, so we’re gonna give them a taste of what it’s like to be on a winning team.”
Mayor Megan Barry said that Nashville has dealt with numerous large events before such as the NHL All-Star game, the Music City Marathon, and many other events.
“We know how to do this,” Barry said. “Our primary focus will always be on the safety of the folks who are coming and we’re already in the process of putting all of those plans together.”
Plans on where stages may be moved or viewing parties may be moved will be worked out in the coming days, but due to specific times for each game not being released yet, many details are undetermined.
