The Gold Carpet Experience
On the day of the Predators opening day, Allyson and Heather were asked to be a part of the ‘The Gold Carpet’ experience. We could not believe that out of all of the season ticket holders that support the Predators each season, two of them happened to a part of our hockey family. Here are their first-hand accounts of what it was like to walk down the gold carpet with a member of the Predators’ team.
After one long summer and 113 days of the dreaded L word that I have officially removed from my vocabulary, we finally got to experience hockey last Saturday night at Bridgestone! Although it didn’t turn out exactly how we all hoped and dreamed about for several months, I will have to say it was great to see the boys back on the ice in their Preds’ jerseys. Being that I am a fairly new Preds’ fan and first- year season ticket holder, I had anticipated the home season opener for months. I was ready for a free Frosty and goo-goo cluster, Cellblock 303 cheers, Krazy Kyle, the passionate fans and all the other aspects that make the Nashville Predators who they are, an amazing team of the NHL that is sometimes underestimated by our opposing teams and their fans.
As I was at work last Friday, I received a phone call from my ticket rep who presented me with an awesome opportunity to be a part of the opening night in a unique way. He asked me if I would like to walk a player down the gold carpet. I thought about it for .001 seconds and of course, my answer was yes. When I arrived on Saturday, I was taken up to a conference room in the Preds’ main office and assigned a number along with about 30 other eager season ticket holders. As we waited in anticipation to line up, I had the opportunity to take in my surroundings and realize I was standing in a place that a multitude of fans may never get the chance to see. In the room where we were waiting, they had a line of Predators’ jerseys on display showing their evolution throughout the years. We passed through the hallways as we made our way to the gold carpet and hanging on the walls were poster-size pictures of players and memorable game moments that documented little pieces of the history of this organization.
Being near the back of the line, I wasn’t sure whom I would end up escorting. I watched as car after car pulled up and all the coaches and player after player exited their respective vehicles and made their way down the gold carpet stopping for autographs and pictures with fans. Once I made my way to the front of the line, I figured out that there was only one player remaining, and that was Craig Smith. Lo and behold the next vehicle that arrived was carrying Craig Smith. I introduced myself to him, and then we began our quick walk down the carpet. He was gracious enough to stop with me in the middle of the carpet, so my friends could capture the moment for me in a few pictures. We made our way to the end of the gold carpet, and it was over before I knew it. I wished him good luck for the game, and he headed to the locker room.
I have to say that this is an experience that I will never forget. I am very thankful to my ticket rep for giving me this opportunity. I continue to believe the Nashville Predators’ organization is one of the classiest in the NHL and the way they treat their fans is first-class. Being able to walk beside one of the players that I cheer for in the stands and him being so gracious and friendly in return was awesome. Here’s to many more seasons cheering for the Preds!
~Allyson
As I was at work last Friday, I received a phone call from my ticket rep who presented me with an awesome opportunity to be a part of the opening night in a unique way. He asked me if I would like to walk a player down the gold carpet. I thought about it for .001 seconds and of course, my answer was yes. When I arrived on Saturday, I was taken up to a conference room in the Preds’ main office and assigned a number along with about 30 other eager season ticket holders. As we waited in anticipation to line up, I had the opportunity to take in my surroundings and realize I was standing in a place that a multitude of fans may never get the chance to see. In the room where we were waiting, they had a line of Predators’ jerseys on display showing their evolution throughout the years. We passed through the hallways as we made our way to the gold carpet and hanging on the walls were poster-size pictures of players and memorable game moments that documented little pieces of the history of this organization.
Being near the back of the line, I wasn’t sure whom I would end up escorting. I watched as car after car pulled up and all the coaches and player after player exited their respective vehicles and made their way down the gold carpet stopping for autographs and pictures with fans. Once I made my way to the front of the line, I figured out that there was only one player remaining, and that was Craig Smith. Lo and behold the next vehicle that arrived was carrying Craig Smith. I introduced myself to him, and then we began our quick walk down the carpet. He was gracious enough to stop with me in the middle of the carpet, so my friends could capture the moment for me in a few pictures. We made our way to the end of the gold carpet, and it was over before I knew it. I wished him good luck for the game, and he headed to the locker room.
I have to say that this is an experience that I will never forget. I am very thankful to my ticket rep for giving me this opportunity. I continue to believe the Nashville Predators’ organization is one of the classiest in the NHL and the way they treat their fans is first-class. Being able to walk beside one of the players that I cheer for in the stands and him being so gracious and friendly in return was awesome. Here’s to many more seasons cheering for the Preds!
~Allyson
Getting the phone call asking to walk a player down the gold carpet was a pretty exciting moment for me. I immediately began thinking about who I was hoping to be paired with…Pekka, who doesn’t love Pekka, Fisher, seems so nice, McGrattan, he and our friend Ben are pals, I’ll join that club…and the list went on.
The day of the game was finally here! We arrived quite early, and I was filled with excitement and anticipation. We waited in a small room hoping to find out who we would get to walk with. We were given numbers and told to line up in order. I was given number 27 and began to assume I would escort Patric Hornqvist. We then realized they were random numbers and were told who we would escort was completely based on what time the players, coaches, and media arrived to the arena.
Standing in line was quite nerve racking and being towards the end of the line was hard. Coaches and a few players came first. I began counting over and over the number of people ahead of me and the number of players left, concerned about who I would get to escort, as was everyone around me. Soon most of the major players had all been escorted and I was just hoping to escort someone cool. Finally it was my turn and Rich Clune’s car pulls up. Who? Oh, the new guy we picked up on waivers. I figured okay, this could be alright.
We were told to grab our player, coach, or media personalities arm as we escorted them but apparently no one warned Clune of this as he was not really okay with it. He was nice enough to say hello before we headed down the carpet. Clune was gracious for the attention and stopped and signed an autograph for and took a picture with every person who asked. I thought that as the new guy this was fairly important. I escorted him inside and bothered him for a picture with me for myself. I then welcomed Clune to “Smashville” which every hockey fan knows is what Nashville becomes on hockey night. Clune then corrected me with an, “It’s Nashville”. I did let him know it was Smashville, before I exited the building.
The number of smiles I saw, especially from children, make events like this even more fun. It is nice to see, especially after the lockout, that the players and coaching staff really do appreciate the fans and understand that we make this sport what it is in our area.
~Heather
The day of the game was finally here! We arrived quite early, and I was filled with excitement and anticipation. We waited in a small room hoping to find out who we would get to walk with. We were given numbers and told to line up in order. I was given number 27 and began to assume I would escort Patric Hornqvist. We then realized they were random numbers and were told who we would escort was completely based on what time the players, coaches, and media arrived to the arena.
Standing in line was quite nerve racking and being towards the end of the line was hard. Coaches and a few players came first. I began counting over and over the number of people ahead of me and the number of players left, concerned about who I would get to escort, as was everyone around me. Soon most of the major players had all been escorted and I was just hoping to escort someone cool. Finally it was my turn and Rich Clune’s car pulls up. Who? Oh, the new guy we picked up on waivers. I figured okay, this could be alright.
We were told to grab our player, coach, or media personalities arm as we escorted them but apparently no one warned Clune of this as he was not really okay with it. He was nice enough to say hello before we headed down the carpet. Clune was gracious for the attention and stopped and signed an autograph for and took a picture with every person who asked. I thought that as the new guy this was fairly important. I escorted him inside and bothered him for a picture with me for myself. I then welcomed Clune to “Smashville” which every hockey fan knows is what Nashville becomes on hockey night. Clune then corrected me with an, “It’s Nashville”. I did let him know it was Smashville, before I exited the building.
The number of smiles I saw, especially from children, make events like this even more fun. It is nice to see, especially after the lockout, that the players and coaching staff really do appreciate the fans and understand that we make this sport what it is in our area.
~Heather