The Fight for the Nashville Predators
By Katie Volz
The Nashville Predators are up for sale and in danger of being moved out of Tennessee. While nothing is final, Predators fans are not taking this threat lightly. Many websites and fan organizations have been popping up in the last few weeks, all with the same goal: to prove that Nashville wants to keep its hockey team.
One such website, nashvilleloveshockey.com, is the project of a local Franklin business owner. Daniel Gardner of Blink Marketing joined the effort to save the Predators because, apart from being a self-proclaimed “super fan,” he believes that the Predators are an invaluable asset to Nashville.
“Small businesses are going to hurt if we loose this team,” warns Gardner, “and as a whole it puts a stigma on the city.”
Given his experience in marketing, Gardner decided to find a way to raise money for season tickets that will be donated to the National Predators Foundation.
“We wanted [to sell] something affordable that you can wear everyday,” says Gardner, “and we thought of the Lance Armstrong bracelets.”
Gardner is now selling the armbands on his website with great success.
“In one day we sold over 100,” Gardner recalls. “Right now we are at over 3,000, including consignment orders.”
Gardner is encouraging consignment orders because he has been overwhelmed by the response. The website offers the option of corporate support through which businesses can buy arm bands on consignment and sell them through their own company.
“The arm bands are a great way to raise money,” Gardner explains, “ because a majority of the profits go to the cause.”
Gardner’s venture is an effort supporting the mutual goal of all the fan groups working to save the Predators, which is to get enough season tickets sold to keep the Predators in Nashville. As a group, these organizations need to sell a total of 14,000 season tickets to keep the Predators in Nashville.
“The main goal is having people buy season tickets,” says Gardner. “Armbands are secondary support. They are a great way for fans who can’t afford season tickets to support the cause.”
The rally held at the Sommet Center on Thursday, July 19, was a big success for the groups pushing to keep the Predators. The event sold 750 season tickets, doubling the previous goal for the rally.
The event was a success for Gardner’s project as well. They sold more than 1,200 armbands and generated more interest in corporate support.
If you would like to support the effort to keep the Predators, please visit www.nashvilleloveshockey.com.
