Kirk A. Bado

The Tennessean

Nashville Predators fans who weren't lucky enough to secure a ticket to the first home Stanley Cup Final games can catch the action in a newly expanded watch party in Lower Broadway.

Titled "Broadway Smash: Preds Party with a Purpose", the newly expanded watch parties will be free to the public for Games 3 and 4 taking place in Nashville on June 3 and 5.

"A stage at Fifth and Broadway will face the Cumberland River, with large screens at the stage and in other locations. Broadway will be closed between Fifth Avenue and Third Avenue. The site will open at 3 p.m. with the concert at 4 p.m., pre-game broadcast shown starting at 5:30 p.m. and the game shown on screens starting at 7 p.m." according to a statement from Mayor Megan Barry's office.

Music City Walk of Fame Park will be open for the first two games of the series, which starts Monday. Fans are not allowed to bring coolers, backpacks or large bags to any of the parties.

Previous viewing parties have shown to be massive successes. Both viewing areas at the plaza immediately outside Bridgestone and in Music City Walk of Fame Park reached capacity before the puck dropped last Monday. Security was forced to turn hundreds of fans away as the Predators beat the Anaheim Ducks to advance to their first Stanley Cup Final in franchise history.

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Viewing parties outside of Bridgestone are the latest edition to the rapidly growing culture of fandom around the Predators like catfish throwing and country music stars singing the anthem. The first viewing parties only attracted around 150 fans, while the Office of Emergency Management estimated over 6,000 fans attended the viewings last Thursday.

Nashville is not the only city in the area planning watch parties. The city of Portland in partnership with The Portland Chamber of Commerce announced a free viewing on Main Street starting at 6 p.m. Monday.

If the series goes to more than four games, than the watch party for Game 5 will be inside Bridgestone Arena, Game 6 party will return to Lower Broadway at Fourth and Broadway with overflow in Walk of Fame Park. Game 7 plans have not been finalized.

The puck drops Monday at 7 p.m. as the Predators take on the defending Stanley Cup champions Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh. Fans should plan to arrive at viewing areas early to secure their spot to watch the Predators play their first Stanley Cup game in franchise history.

Viewing party dates and times for Nashville:

Game 1, Monday, May 29, away game: Opens at 4 p.m. at Walk of Fame Park.

Game 2, Wednesday, May 31, away game: Opens at 4 p.m. at Walk of Fame Park.

Game 3, Saturday, June 3, home game: Opens at 3 p.m. on Lower Broadway.

Game 4, Monday, June 5, home game: Opens at 3 p.m. on Lower Broadway.

Game 5, Thursday, June 8, away game (if needed): Opens at 4 p.m. inside Bridgestone Arena.

Game 6, Sunday, June 11, home game (if needed): Opens at 4 p.m. on Lower Broadway at Fourth and Broadway and on Fifth Avenue with overflow at Walk of Fame Park

Game 7, Wednesday, June 14, away game (if needed): Opens at 4 p.m. at TBD.

Reach Kirk A. Bado on Twitter @kirk_bado.