Hundreds of fired up Nashville Predators fans send off team to Pittsburgh from airport

When your team is making its first Stanley Cup Final appearance in franchise history — and in the midst of an improbable postseason run — you go the extra step to show appreciation.

That was the attitude of the close to 300 Nashville Predators diehards who gathered at the Nashville International Airport Saturday afternoon to send off their team to Pittsburgh.

“We all want them to win, and we all care about them,” said 12-year-old Jack Gallaher, who was there sporting blue and gold with his dad Chris Gallaher.

The Predators, who entered the playoffs as an 8 seed, face the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins at 7 p.m. on Monday night.

Players, coaches, front office staff and the Predators’ radio crew got royal teatment Saturday as fans formed a walkway for them to get inside the airport. The only thing that was missing was the red carpet.

As players entered, luggage in hand, fans cheered. They held signs. Some made quips about the Penguins and star center Sidney Crosby. 

And they of course had a full array of chants.

“Let’s go Preds!” 

“We want the Cup!”

“Pekka! Pekka! Pekka!”

Players appreciated the enthusiasm, taking turns signing autographs, and nodding and gesturing in approval. 

“Today’s my birthday, and there’s no better place than to send the boys off,” said David Bennett of Nashville, who commemorated his 56th birthday by sending off his favorite team. 

“They’re that important to the city, and they’re that important to us,” he said. “I wanted to come out here and see them off for the first two wins.”

Those who lined up at the airport were some of the team’s most passionate fans, not the bandwagon-types who have jumped on for the ride. 

Dave Banks, a 23-year-old student at University of Memphis Lambuth, drove in from West Tennessee to meet up with a friend Saturday. While in town, he figured he better stop by to wish luck to his team.

“I just want them to know that we’re all behind them, and I’d like them to get their first Stanley Cup Win.”

Pamela Masar, a Predators fan since they began in 1998, send she wanted to wish the team luck from the payers, all the way down to the water boy.

“It means a lot to them, and it means a lot to us,” she said. “They have our full support whether we win or lose.”

Many of these fans have tickets lined up to attend Games 3 and 4 win the series comes to Nashville. But for those who can’t be there, this was next best things.

Kathy Polumbo of Murfreesboro, who was at the send-off with her three children and husband, will be out of town with her family for the homes games because of an already-scheduled vacation.

“I really wanted a chance to do something like this before they leave,” she said.
Saturday’s event was sponsored by 102.5 The Game, the Predators’ flagship radio station. 

The crowd didn’t match the size of the welcome-home gathering following the team’s monumental Game 5 victory last weekend against the Anaheim Ducks.

But if the Predators play well in Pittsburgh, you can bet an even bigger crowd will be welcoming them as they return to Music City.

Reach Joey Garrison at 615-259-8236 and on Twitter @joeygarrison.