Massive crowds cause safety concerns during Game 3 of Stanley Cup Final

Kirk A. Bado | The Tennessean

Show Caption Hide Caption Crowding causes issues at Game 3 watch parties Overcrowding caused issues for many fans at the Game 3 Stanley Cup Final watch parties on Saturday night.

Thousands of Predators fans descended to Broadway on Saturday night, causing congestion, frustration and safety concerns.

At the Broadway Smash viewing party, thousands of fans were packed shoulder to shoulder, causing some fans to question even coming downtown.

Kevin Smith drove up to Nashville from Franklin with two friends. They arrived at 3 p.m. and started the day at Jack's BBQ and had table overlooking Lower Broadway. After watching the pregame concert and first period from that location, they decided to check out the street level.

The sidewalks near the second screen on 4th Ave. Cant move no matter where you go. pic.twitter.com/zrxbYThCiT — Autumn Allison (@Aallison25) June 4, 2017

"No. Too crowded. I mean it's been fun, it's kind of once in a lifetime. But, yeah." he said, shaking his head.

He did not feel like he was in any danger, but noted the frustration with trying to move around.

"Yeah, I don't feel unsafe. I guess just not enough space to bring in all of the fans to this. But it's fantastic, I'm a big Preds fan." he said. "Man this is like gridlock out here. It's crazy."

While most of the viewers for the watch party were seated in the blocked-off areas in the streets, most of the concerns came on the sidewalks.

Metro Nashville Police estimated over 50,000 people came downtown to watch the game, crowding streets, bars and sidewalks. As of 11 p.m. on Saturday, metro reported 11 arrests: seven for public intoxication, three for counterfeit tickets and one for flying a drone over the large crowd.

Fans and the standard downtown Saturday night crowd alike were swarming near fences and barriers to get a glimpse of the screens, leading to major back-ups for people attempting to move in either direction.

"I'm from New Orleans and this is worse than Mardi Gras," said Wyatt Jones, who works downtown. "... At Mardi Gras I could move like 10 blocks in 10 minutes. Here I think I've moved a block in 10 minutes."

Mayor Megan Barry's office, Metro Nashville Police Department and the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation did not respond to calls late Saturday night.

While the crowds on Broadway were an immediate safety concern, there was also disappointment and confusion when an announcer at the Preds Plaza Party at the Bridgestone Arena Plaza came over the public address system to make an announcement:

"We're having some issues here and we're going to have to clear the Plaza."

#BREAKING Bridgestone Arena Plaza watch party being told to vacate, move to Broadway. Fans booing, yelling, upset pic.twitter.com/rs8MkEgSQK — Kirk A. Bado (@kirk_bado) June 4, 2017

Dalton Irvin, 19 of Nashville, got to the plaza two hours before the puck dropped to secure his spot and felt dejected when he was told to leave.

"And they say we're a hockey town."

Irivn said he did not think they would reopen the viewing area, and went with his friends to find space in the short time before the puck was set to drop.

After 10 minutes of confusion and frustration, a modified viewing area was re-opened on the plaza, but much smaller than the original.

Tense moment at fans demand the game be turned back on in Bridgestone Plaza pic.twitter.com/I14DmbIVh6 — Kirk A. Bado (@kirk_bado) June 4, 2017

David Kells, vice president of booking at Predators and Bridgestone Arena said it was a capacity issue.

"We were at capacity and now we are re-opening with a smaller area," he said.

Hundreds of fans shouted at security, frustrated that they did not know about the plans to reopen the viewing area.

Josh Peterson from Franklin arrived downtown around 3:45 and tried to get into the Alan Jackson show on Broadway, but was turned away because they were at capacity. He decided to secure a spot in front of the screen. Peterson was shocked when they were told to leave right before the national anthem.

"The whole thing was a total disaster," he said.

His party then wandered around, trying to find another viewing party. He's been to five previous public viewing parties during the Preds' playoff run and he could not find any other place that wasn't already at capacity.

"The logistics of it were just so poorly planned. And in a town full of managers, event planners and logistics experts, this is inexcusable," he said.

Broadway Smash is still open (and packed). It was the Plaza viewing party right outside Bridgestone Arena that was vacated and reopened — Kirk A. Bado (@kirk_bado) June 4, 2017

This story will be updated.