Predators viewing party keeps growing as team keeps winning

Heavy storms Saturday did not stop Predators fan Zach Lo from setting up lawn chairs at the Music City Walk of Fame Park hours before the start of Game 5.

Lo said he came early to snag a front row view of the big screen. He's attended the public watch parties before. And when there's good weather, fans quickly pack the park, he said.

It's an awesome time to be a Predators fan, Lo said.

"The energy is spreading through the whole state," he said. "We weren't a hockey state, but now we're definitely a hockey state."

Nashville Predators fans don't have to venture far from Bridgestone Arena if a game sells out — or if the team is on the road.

At the Music City Walk of Fame Park, just behind the arena, hundreds of fans gather for a free watch party.

Attendance at the Preds Party at the Park has grown from about 150 to 5,000 during the Predators' historic play off run.  

Saturday's planned event was cancelled due to inclement weather, but fans stayed as long as they could before finding another spot to watch the game. 

Predators fan Jason Skillern said he couldn't miss watching the team compete in the Western Conference finals for the first time.  

"You can't miss it," Skillern said. "We're winning. It's a beautiful thing."

The city takes over for safety

With the growing crowds, it's also the first time the city has organized the public watch parties. 

"After the Blues series, we had a conversation with the Preds. The Arena plaza was getting extremely crowded and could not handle any more people safely," said Butch Spyridon, President and CEO of Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp., in a statement.

"We offered to expand the area where fans could gather and will continue to do so until there are no more games," he said.

Crowds swell into thousands

The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and Nashville Sports Council have also joined the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. to host the parties. 

“Crowds have grown steadily as the Preds have advanced," said Spyridon.

"Attendance has grown from about 150, to 600, to over 1,000 — and 5,000 on Thursday night. We expect the crowds to continue to grow as the team advances," Spryidon said. 

Reach Melanie Balakit at mbalakit@tennessean.com.

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