As reported by Ken Whitehouse, prospective Predators owner David Freeman understands why the Preds matter for our city, even for people who have no love for hockey:

While not a huge hockey fan yet, [Freeman] is a fan of Nashville and he clearly understands from a broader view what the team has meant for the city. “My motivation with this is that it is something that needs to happen for continued development in Nashville,” he said.

Then-Mayor Phil Bredesen wasn’t a huge hockey fan either but knew what bringing a professional sports team here had the potential of doing for the city. The Predators came in as the city’s first professional sports team and it helped reinvigorate downtown and also added a selling feature for economic developers trying to recruit companies here and companies trying to recruit employees. The arrival of the Tennessee Titans added to that.

In my opinion, we all need to be Nashville “fans.” Losing a major entertainment attraction and a source of civic pride such as the Preds would be a devastating loss for the community. I don’t have much interest in auto racing, but I would welcome a Sprint Cup race here in a heartbeat because it would be a huge feather in Nashville’s cap. I’ve visited the Grand Ole’ Opry all of one time when I was in kindergarten, but who could imagine this town without Porter Waggoner? Many have tried, and despite his atrocious wardrobe, he and the Opry are a significant share of what makes Nashville a great and growing place to live. Let’s keep it that way, from Porter to the Preds and everywhere in between.