Nashville Predators and Mayor O'Connell strike deal for Centennial Sportsplex ice rink upgrades
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Father Ryan and Brentwood shake hands following their game last year at the Sportsplex. Photo: Melissa Libby/courtesy of the Nashville Predators.
The Nashville Predators will invest millions of dollars in upgrades to the Centennial Sportsplex ice rinks under a new lease agreement with Mayor Freddie O'Connell.
Why it matters: Centennial Sportsplex is a vital community hub for hockey and figure skating, which are increasingly popular in Nashville. It's also the practice facility for the Predators.
Between the lines: The lease agreement calls for the Predators to assume operation of the ice rinks and surrounding common areas at the Sportsplex. In exchange, the Predators will be responsible for maintenance and repairs, ridding the city of an estimated $30 million in expenses.
- The swimming pool, tennis courts and fitness center would continue to be run by the Metro Parks Department.
Zoom in: In addition to taking on maintenance and repairs cost, the Predators plan to make "millions of dollars in private investment" into improving the ice rinks.
- The ice facilities have become rundown — bathrooms and other common spaces are clearly in need of upgrades.
The intrigue: Visiting teams have voiced frustrations about the poor condition of the practice facilities in recent years. The Vancouver Canucks even ridiculed the Sportsplex in a TikTok post.
State of play: In a letter to the Parks Board members this week, Predators CEO Sean Henry promised youth and amateur hockey scheduling would remain the same.
- "There will be no cuts to existing programming, and the Predators have committed to keeping pricing and access stable to ensure there are no disruptions to the current, legacy figure skating and hockey programs at Centennial," Henry says, adding the team wants to expand programming to increase public access to the facility.
- During the upgrades, the plan is for at least one rink to remain open at all times, Henry says in his letter.
- The Predators are simultaneously planning $750 million of renovations and upgrades to Bridgestone Arena.
The facility improvements will include space for Tennessee State's new NCAA hockey program, Henry says.
The big picture: The Predators and Metro previously partnered on new ice facilities in Antioch and Bellevue. Those investments significantly grew the youth hockey scene in Nashville.
What he's saying: "This proposal is not a new experiment, but rather, it's a deliberate escalation of a proven partnership built on trust, shared goals, and mutual success," Henry says.
What's next: Multiple rounds of approval are required before the lease agreement, which would run through 2049, becomes official.
- The deal is on next week's Parks Board agenda. The board won't vote on the plan until November.
- Metro Council also must sign off on the plan.
If approved, cosmetic improvements would come first with major renovations set to begin later in 2026.