Predators Involved in Five Major Events This Weekend

Nashville Predators' players, coaches, dancers, and ice girls will be all over Smashville this weekend in special events and activities so this is a great weekend to get out and mingle as we are only a couple of weeks away from the Predators' Rookie Camp.

The first event is the Best Buddies 5k Run with Coach Trotz which will be at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday in McKay's Mill in Franklin.

From 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Bridgestone Arena, the team will have an open house with plenty of activities for everyone and special appearances by the Preds' Ice Girls, Gnash, and the Nashville RollerGirls.

From 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Centennial Sportsplex the newly formed "Sled Preds" Youth Sled Hockey program that is sponsored by the Predators will kick-off.

For the nightcap, at 6:05, the Nashville Sounds will be having Predators' night at Greer Stadium in their game against Memphis.  Kevin Klein will throw out the first pitch while Barry Trotz, Brent Peterson, GNASH and the Nashville Predators Dancers and Ice Girls, and Pete Weber will be in attendance.

Finally, on Sunday, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. it will be Nashville Predators Day at the Nashville Zoo on Nolensville Road. On the Zoo’s Festival Field there will be autographs with Kevin Klein and Stu Grimson,  appearances from GNASH and the Predators Dancers and Ice Girls, as well as inflatables, games, giveaways and more.

Make the jump for more details on the events in the official release from the Predators...

Nashville Predators Plan Busy Weekend Around Middle Tennessee
-Weekend highlighted by Best Buddies 5k Run with Coach Trotz, Open House at Bridgestone Arena, Preds Night with the Sounds and Preds Day at the Nashville Zoo-

Nashville Tenn. (August 22, 2011) – With the summer in full swing, the Nashville Predators are using their time off the ice to take part in several events in the community and at Bridgestone Arena this weekend Saturday, August 27 through Sunday, August 28.

Kicking off the busy weekend will be Nashville Predators’ participation in Saturday’s Best Buddies 5k Run/Walk at McKay’s Mill in Franklin (1400 Liberty Pike) at 7:30 a.m. Organized by Head Coach Barry Trotz, a group of Preds staffers will participate in the Run/Walk to help raise money and awareness for a cause near and dear to Coach Trotz’s heart, as his youngest son Nolan lives with Down Syndrome; the mission of Best Buddies is to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The highlight of the weekend comes Saturday from 12-6 p.m., when the Predators host Nashville’s biggest tailgate party at Bridgestone Arena. On this day only, fans who purchase a season ticket plan will receive a Zamboni ride at a 2011-12 Nashville Predators home game and a Predators gift bag with autographed merchandise. The day will also be the last opportunity to take advantage of the “Predators Rewards Program,” which provides season ticketholders with valuable hockey bucks which can be redeemed for merchandise, food and beverage, parking, and other select Bridgestone Arena event tickets.

Open to the general public, the Predators Open House will also be the last chance to tour the Arena and preview the building’s upgrades before the start of the 2011-12 season. To make reservations for an exclusive on-on-one tour of the building and to view available seats for ticket plans visit nashvillepredators.com/openhouse.

Prizes, including autographed merchandise, will be given away every hour during the Open House and all attendees are eligible. Other family fun includes
   • Replays of three big wins in Preds franchise history being shown on the plaza.
   • BBQ and other concessions
   • Gnash and the Ice Girls
   • Appearances by the Nashville Roller Girls
   • Nashville Sounds fast pitch
   • Pro Shop specials
   • Kids Games and much more…

Also taking place Saturday afternoon from 1:30–3:30 p.m. at Centennial Sportsplex is the kick-off of the newly formed "Sled Preds" Youth Sled Hockey program. The initiative – made possible by a grant from the Nashville Predators Foundation to the National Wheelcats, an organization that provides sport activities for the physically disabled and USA Hockey – includes a free clinic for any disabled youth that would like to try sled hockey. For more information contact Sled Preds Sport Director Troy Weise at troyhweise@live.com or 770-561-0038.

Then at 6:05 p.m. on Saturday, the Preds and the Sounds team up for Preds Day with the Nashville Sounds at Greer Stadium (534 Chestnut Street) as the Sounds take on their cross-state rival Memphis Redbirds. This special event includes Kevin Klein throwing out the first pitch, appearances by Head Coach Barry Trotz, Hockey Operations Advisor Brent Peterson, GNASH and the Nashville Predators Dancers and Ice Girls, game commentary by Preds radio play-by-play announcer Pete Weber, fireworks, the opportunity for kids to run the bases after the game and much more. This game is open to the public and tickets may be purchased at nashvillesounds.com or at the Greer Stadium Box office.

Closing out busy weekend will be the fourth annual Nashville Predators Day at the Nashville Zoo (3777 Nolensville Road, Nashville). The event takes place on Sunday, Aug. 28 from 1-5 p.m. on the Zoo’s Festival Field and includes an autograph session with Preds defenseman Kevin Klein and alum Stu Grimson, appearances from GNASH and the Predators Dancers and Ice Girls, as well as inflatables, games, giveaways and more.

Throughout the season, the Nashville Predators make regular appearances in the community. Log on to nashvillepredators.com for the most up-to-date information.

More Later...

Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass