Photo by Tommy BoydSmashville will be playing for a few more weeks after the Nashville Predators eliminated the Anaheim Ducks to clinch a spot in the franchise’s first ever Stanley Cup Final on Monday night.

Fans flocked towards the Bridgestone Arena area around five o’clock, this time filling up the plaza long before the game was set to begin. Per usual, a Ducks-themed smash car awaited them with an array of sledgehammers.

Photo by Tommy BoydAs fans enjoyed the loud music and the food from vendors parked on 5th Avenue, the gaps between the gold and navy sea were filled. Walk of Fame Park met capacity early in the evening as Preds fans came in multitudes to witness history.

Photo by Tommy Boyd

A few Ducks fans boldly faced the golden crowd as they walked through the plaza and into the arena, although some actually held their orange T-shirts tightly in their hand until they were safely inside where they could change.

“It’s a great atmosphere,” said Anaheim fan Parker Abdo, a California native who was brave enough to face the crowd alone. “There’s a lot of [gold], that’s for sure.”

Photo by Tommy BoydAs the game started, so too did the celebration. Austin Watson’s early goal for the Predators gave Smashville all the confidence it needed. The fans hadn’t quite settled down from the excitement when Colton Sissons added the second goal.

The announcers reminded everyone that the team to score first had gone on to lose four of the series’ five games. Smashville was too loud to listen. With a 2-0 lead and an ever growing chance to play for the coveted Stanley Cup, an energy circulated through Bridgestone Plaza that was certainly unique to this game. It was their time, and the fans could feel it.

Photo by Tommy Boyd

Part of that buzz was simply due to the size of the crowd. Those lucky enough to be in either the plaza or park had barely enough room to turn around, and many of the smaller fans climbed on chairs or the backs of the food trucks in order to see.

“In even some of the most established hockey cities, if you look at downtown during the game it’s nothing like this,” said Preds fan Patrick Penny. “You can barely walk a block.”

Photo by Tommy BoydWhen the Ducks tied the game at 3-3 early in the third period, the crowd fell silent for only a moment. While doubts began to visibly surface on some fans’ faces, others started chants of “Let’s Go Preds!” that echoed off of the downtown buildings.

Sissons’ go-ahead goal with six minutes left to play acted as the green light to begin the celebration. Some people yelled excitedly as others pulled out their cell phones to record the impending history in the Music City. As the final seconds ticked away, fans began a New Years-esque countdown.

When the zeros finally appeared on the clock, a beautiful chaos fell over the plaza. Some fans rushed for lower Broadway while others remained planted in front of the screen in a wonderful combination of joy and disbelief. Eventually they were met by the fans rushing out of the arena, and chants of “WE WANT THE CUP” flooded the crowd along with the celebratory country music bellowing from the nearby buildings.

Photo by Tommy BoydHigh fives were given away generously as golden shirts glowed underneath the neon lights of Broadway. Fans celebrated with fists clenched and arms outstretched from atop the shoulders of bigger fans while smiles and hugs were exchanged between friends and strangers.

It was a celebration filled with wide-eyed enthusiasm. With little to no prior experience as a league-recognized “hockey town,” Smashville celebrated genuinely and expertly on Monday.

It’s the only way they seem to know.

Photo by Tommy Boyd





Photo by Tommy Boyd





Photo by Tommy Boyd

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