Stanley Cup Final: City, Predators Make Adjustments For Game 5, 6 Parties With CMA Fest Looming

NASHVILLE, TN — CMA Fest begins Thursday, marking the beginning of what is annually Nashville's busiest tourism weekend. Meanwhile, the Nashville Predators are two wins away from winning the Stanley Cup, with Thursday's Game 5 in Pittsburgh and Sunday's Game 6 at Bridgestone Arena occurring simultaneously with the country music festival.

But Metro isn't backing down. The Predators' watch parties have been a rousing success, jamming tens of thousands on to Broadway to watch the games on big screens, attracting national attention and praise from the hockey world for the enthusiasm (and weirdness) of Nashville fans inside and outside the arena. This is Nashville, after all, and putting on a show is one of the city's major industries. And the shows — all of them — will go on. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Middle Tennessee Patch morning newsletter.)

"Nashville is not only going to make history on the ice by bringing home the Stanley Cup, but we are making history by setting the gold standard for fan participation both inside and outside Bridgestone Arena," Metro Mayor Megan Barry said.

For Game 5, the Preds are opening Bridgestone Arena, selling 13,000 tickets to watch the game inside. Tickets are $15 or $5 for season ticket holders, with the proceeds going to the Predators Foundation. Meanwhile, Metro and the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation will put on watch parties outside, but shift them a few blocks up Broadway to accommodate CMA's needs.

The Broadway party will be between Fourth and Seventh with giant screens at Fourth and another between Fifth and Sixth. The Predators will also open the plaza with 300 wristbands available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The site opens at 5 p.m. The game at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh begins at 7.

For Sunday's home Game 6, the city will host parties at Broadway, Walk of Fame Park and Ascend Amphitheater. Again, the Broadway party will stretch from Fourth to Seventh, with three screens. It will open at 4 p.m. Once the CMA activities conclude, Walk of Fame Park will open for the watch party. The Preds will again offer viewing on the plaza with 300 wristbands. Game 6 also begins at 7.

Food trucks will be on site, and sodas and beer will be on sale. Bottled water and hot dogs will be on sale at low family-friendly prices.

Attendees can bring blankets, collapsible chairs and small bags. Coolers, backpacks and large bags will not be permitted. For a complete list of house rules, please go to visitmusiccity.com/NashvillePredators.