NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — A proposal that would give the Nashville Predators control of the ice rinks at Centennial Sportsplex is drawing both support and concern from local hockey families.
Under the proposed public-private partnership, the Predators would assume operational control of both ice rinks and the concession area. The team would take on maintenance, insurance, and capital improvements, while Metro would receive a share of the net revenue.
Predators Chief Executive Officer Sean Henry said the organization’s goal is to make major upgrades to a facility that Metro Parks acknowledges needs investment.
“We want to invest a lot of money in Centennial to make sure the great history and legacy programs that work out of there can continue for generations to come,” Henry told FOX 17 News.
Centennial Sportsplex is currently Nashville’s only fully public ice rink. The Predators already operate two Metro-owned facilities, Ford Ice Centers in Antioch and Bellevue, through similar partnerships.
Young hockey players take to the ice at Centennial Sportsplex. (Photo: FOX 17 News)
For families who spend nights inside the rink, the issue isn’t just about infrastructure; it’s about protecting the sense of community that’s developed over decades.
Chris Gothard, who drives four hours to and from Jackson, Tennessee, said he first enrolled his son at Ford Ice Center before joining the Flyers youth hockey program at Centennial.
“When he gets out on the ice, that smile on his face, I’ll drive four hours twice a week anytime,” Gothard said. “Everybody who comes here is like a hockey family. We’re all cheering and screaming our guts out for these kids to play.”
Young hockey players take to the ice at Centennial Sportsplex. (Photo: FOX 17 News)
Gothard said he worries that if the Predators take over, it could limit options for players and families.
“There has to be a free market in hockey teams, and if there’s not, it becomes a monopoly here,” he said.
At a recent community meeting, parents and coaches said they support modernization but want written assurances that legacy programs, like the Nashville Flyers, won’t be pushed out.
Ryan Lipscomb, another hockey parent, said his family chose the Flyers program for its coaching and culture.
“They said they’re going to keep the legacy programs; we’d hate to see that change,” Lipscomb said. “The Flyers have a great culture.”
Todd Bisson, president of Nashville Youth Hockey, said families simply want stability.
“The biggest concerns are cost certainty as well as the ability to have a long-term agreement and honoring the current legacy programs, making sure everybody has a seat at the table,” Bisson said.
Metro Parks officials declined to comment on the proposal until it goes before the acquisitions committee for discussion and consideration. That meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 2, at the Parks Board Room on Park Plaza.