A while back I had the opportunity to travel to Nashville on a business trip. You know how that goes, you end up working like a dog all day, and then trying to find something to do in the evening. As luck would have it, we had a hockey fan with us who talked us into going to a Nashville Predators game. I had seen minor league hockey, and thought it would be great to see an NHL game. So we decided to head downtown that night and see if we could get in to the game. It was held at the Gaylord Entertainment Center, which is a tremendous arena. The game was great, but the arena was too.

The first thing that caught my eye was the appearance of the Gaylord Center. With lots of glass and steel, and with an unusual roof shape, it has a very modern look. You can tell that this is an arena that has been built in recent years. Once inside, I was taken aback. The Gaylord Entertainment Center is probably the most well designed arena that I have ever been to. We were able to easily work our way over to the ticket window to get our seats for the hockey game. The lady told us that we could get the “best available” seats at $27 each…I’ll get back to this later.

Upon leaving the ticket window, we then entered into the main building. There were plenty of escalators and elevators to help fans work their way through the arena. The signage inside was more than adequate, and was very helpful to a newcomer in finding my way around. Of course, my first stop was the Pro Shop, the modern equivalent of the souvenir stand. Here you could find more than just a couple of t-shirts and programs. They had an enormous amount of floor space where you could find almost anything dedicated to the Nashville Predators. While the checkout line moved quickly, I found that the lines were hard to get into; the shop needed to have a dedicated waiting line area. Instead, the waiting line was forced to wind throughout the store. This made shopping a challenge.

After picking up a couple of mementos, it was time to find our seats. The escalators moved very quickly, and by following the signs we were able to work our way to the correct level in no time. The walkways are very wide, and allow for plenty of traffic. It seemed like there were concession stands every 15 yards. During the intermissions there were no long lines, and what lines there were moved fast. Along with the usual menu of hamburgers, hot dogs, and cokes, Gaylord also offers chicken sandwiches and pizza. One warning: the cost for a 24-ounce beer was $6.50. That will keep you sober during your visit!

Finally, we found our “best available” seats. We were at center ice…but in the last row of the top deck. That is a LONG way up! The seating is very comfortable, with chair back cushioned chairs to sit in. The arena colors are mainly blue and gold, which is the same color scheme used by the Predators. However, I found that there was not enough legroom in the aisles for a tall man like myself. But the seat itself was very comfortable.

During the event, I saw several things that make the Gaylord Entertainment Center a special place to watch a sporting event. The scoreboard shoots fire out of the top, which is really cool. Each side of the scoreboard has a large video screen that is great for watching replays, or enjoying the activities taking place in the stands during the game. And there was a lot going on at this game. For example, there was a live band playing during the Intermission periods; there is a special platform set up that can be seen from all areas. In fact, I don’t think there is a bad seat in the house. This is really a great place to watch a game or any other kind of event.

When the game was over, and it was time to go, I was shocked at the foot traffic leaving the building. It was very orderly, and very quick. There were more than enough escalators and exit doors to accommodate the crowds leaving the arena. It was very different than most other games that I have attended. The arena is designed to make exit (and entrance) very easy, which is unusual. But it simply adds to the total experience to be enjoyed at the Gaylord Entertainment Center.

Next time you are visiting Nashville, I sincerely hope you have an opportunity to visit this wonderful arena. Whether for hockey, arena football, or any of the other activities that take place here, you will find that the Gaylord Center is a tremendous place to watch an event.


Recommended: Yes

Parking Availability: No Problemo
Seat Location: Upper Level