Whenever there is a big hockey game such as the NHL’s Winter Classic, many fans of the away team make their way out from near and far to go see their favourite team play. Many Nashville Predators fans were expected to make their way out to Dallas for the 2020 Winter Classic, but nobody was expecting as many Predators fans to show up as they did in masses.
Cotton Bowl Stadium was sold out with 85,630 at the game. While the majority of the fans were obviously cheering for the home team, there were over 20,000 Predators fans who made their way out to Cotton Bowl Stadium on New Year’s Day. Many people were questioning the ability for an outdoor game out south to be able to even sell tickets. Nashville fans shut doubters up with their loyalty to their team.
The level of support from the fans was truly unprecedented, especially for a team not from a traditional hockey market. “There are more people here in yellow from Nashville then would fit in Bridgestone arena, so that’s how well Predators fans travelled,” said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
From the moment the players first took to the ice before puck drop on Wednesday evening, Predators fans made sure that they stood out and would be noticed. The fans came to cheer on their beloved Nashville Predators and from the moment the players took the ice, there was thunderous applause from the fans. When the Dallas Stars lineup was being announced, it was hard to even hear the announcer over the electric noise from the Cotton Bowl faithful.
However, when former Nashville Predator Alexander Radulov was announced, the outnumbered Predators fans did their best to rattle Radulov prior to puck drop with boos that matched the level of cheering by the home fans despite being heavily outnumbered. It wasn’t like the Stars fans weren’t cheering for Radulov either. He has become a fan favourite and one of the Stars top players. Nashville fans were just louder and more passionate early on.
The amount of fans in their favourite teams gear was a wonderful sight to see. While it appeared like 99% of the fans in attendance were wearing jerseys, it seemed like 100% of fans from Nashville came equipped in their Predators gear. The amount of Predators fans rocking the new edition winter classic apparel was fantastic as well. There were even some fans wearing Nashville Dixie Flyers jerseys which was the first professional hockey team in Nashville and the muse for the Predators Winter Classic jerseys.
Despite the sea of green in the stands, Predators fans were not able to be drowned out by the sea of home fans. From the very beginning of the game when the Predators scored two early goals to every successful penalty kill, the Nashville fans cheers and boos were not able to be drowned out. “You never know how many people are going to travel but at the same time we have the best fans in the league they show up every game, they show up to the plane sometimes when we are about to fly out,” said Filip Forsberg after practice on December 31st when asked about the fans support. “Like I said, they have been supporting us since day one and we are really looking forward to tomorrow to having them all there.”
“Having that many people from Nashville was really special so thanks for all the fans that came out,” said Predators captain Roman Josi following his teams 4-2 loss. “It’s really special for us to get that kind of support.” Despite the loss to Dallas, seeing the amount of fans that traveled out to see the team was quite special for the players involved.
Over the course of the entire week leading up to the Winter Classic, Nashville Predators fans could be identified everywhere you looked. Wearing their Nashville jerseys and apparel and sporting their teams colours throughout the days leading up to the winter classic made it seem like Nashville was the home team. Predators fans were everywhere around Dallas, whether they were seen walking around the streets, dining at local resteraunts, or touring the city, the Predators had fans all over Dallas. If you saw Dallas a couple of days leading up to the winter classic you would be forgiven for thinking that the Predators were the home team. Even as I am writing this article traveling back home, I see Predators fans driving back from the lone star state wearing their Predators gear and whose cars are decorated with Predators stickers showing their support.
The support of Nashville’s fans did not go unnoticed by the Dallas Stars. When asked about how impressed he was with the dedication and passion of Predators fans coming all the way out from Tennessee, Stars interim head coach Rick Bowness said, “Fantastic. But you know, from day one, that franchise has been a great franchise. Great energy and I remember against Vancouver in the playoffs, saying this is one of the loudest rinks I’ve been in in a long long time. It’s incredible the passion the fans have and the noise that they bring, so I’m not surprised that they’re here and I think it’s fantastic that they’re here, but from day one, it’s been a great franchise with a fantastic following. Lots of passionate fans and we love that.”
All the fans who made their way out to Dallas were the true stars of the first game of 2020. If it wasn’t already certain before the 2020 Winter Classic, then it certainly is evident now. The Nashville Predators have some of the best fans in the National Hockey League.