Lightning fans flood downtown Nashville for Stadium Series game

NASHVILLE — It was hard to miss the royal blue and stark white jerseys strolling through downtown Nashville on Saturday as Lightning fans flooded Broadway, the city’s popular thoroughfare.

As fans prepared for the outdoor game against the Predators that night at Nissan Stadium, many joined the all-day tailgate scene in Music City.

Some shouted, “Go Bolts! over the noise of pedal pubs – bicycle vehicles where it’s legal for patrons to drink and ride – and music leaking from bars. Others donned cowboy hats and Stadium Series-themed clothing under mismatched layers to stay warm.

“I feel like I’m downtown (Tampa),” said Neal Ellsworth, 36, of Tampa. “We started saying, ‘Go Bolts!’ every time we saw someone, and by the end of Thursday, we were tired of saying it because it was, like, every second It’s amazing how many Tampa Bay fans are here.

This created a great game day scene in the hours leading up to the face-off in front of an estimated 65,000 fans. Here’s what some Lightning fans had to say about the experience.

“We are like a sea of ​​blue”

Courtney Ellsworth and her husband, Neal, decided to attend the game as soon as it was announced in the Lightning’s Stanley Cup Finals series against the Canadiens last summer. They bought their tickets four weeks ago.

The seven-year-old couple had never been to Nashville until they arrived Thursday morning. They called the Broadway march “overwhelming”, but said seeing so many blue and white jerseys made them feel at home.

“We’re like a sea of ​​blue,” said Courtney, 30, of Tampa.

With temperatures expected between 40 and 30 degrees, the couple had to order cold weather gear from Amazon and pull out old clothes from the back of the closet. Scarves, sleeveless jackets, gloves, hats and coats were part of the packing list.

“We’ve brought every piece of heated diaper we own,” Neal said. “We’re sort of out of step with everything, but we’ll be warm.”

First Lightning game for the Kansas City native

Eric Stokes hadn’t had the pleasure of seeing his favorite hockey team in person until Saturday night.

Stokes, 18, of Kansas City, Mo., was offered the trip to the game by his father, James. The two traveled with Sean McFall, a close family friend they refer to as Eric’s “uncle”.

Arriving Friday night, the trio strolled down Broadway for the first time, marveling at the offerings from Nashville. They had planned to make more visits after the game.

McFall, 46, of Tampa, was thrilled to share the experience with Eric, who can’t wait to see players like Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman and Brayden Point play in person after watching them on TV for so long.

“I felt like a kid in a candy store getting off the plane (Friday) night,” Eric said. “I know it’s going to be wild. There will be so many people screaming and screaming.

For McFall, it was about sharing the experience with the Stokes and adding another “highlight” to his roster after previously attending the Stanley Cup Finals and other Lightning games in Tampa.

“(This team) earned it,” McFall said. “Tampa doesn’t get enough credit, but now that they’ve won, they’re due.”

Tampa Bay fans travel from Atlanta

Damon Kelly, Erin Bubelis and Melissa Reynolds met through a Bucs fan Facebook group over a decade ago and have been friends ever since. Living in Atlanta, there was no question where they would be this weekend, with such a short trip.

Kelly turned 53 on Friday and wanted to celebrate with her friends. On Saturday afternoon, they stalked outside Nissan Stadium with a group of other Lightning fans. Since the group traveled to Nashville, they had room for lawn chairs, folding tables and coolers for drinks and leftover snacks from their rented Airbnb.

Typically, Kelly travels to Tampa for one or two games per season. But he knew Saturday’s experience was unlike any other at the Amalie Arena.

“I don’t know what to expect,” Kelly said, wearing a black Vinny Lecavalier sweater, on Saturday afternoon. “I’m already starting to smell the butterflies, just the anticipation of getting in there. When I see the players come on the ice and start skating, I’m going to lose my mind. »

The Orlando trio reunite

When Andrew Yonker moved to Nashville last year, he had the perfect setup to host friends from Orlando while attending an outdoor Lightning game.

An Orlando native and USF alumnus, Yonker, 30, grew up a Lightning fan. So are pals Nick Siciliano, 30, and Eric Fuller, 31, both from Orlando. They occasionally attend games for the Solar Bears, the Lightning’s ECHL affiliate that plays in Orlando.

Yonker parked his truck in Lot C of Nissan Stadium and the trio set up a makeshift tailgate with fried chicken, salsa, meat and cheese wraps and caramel and cheddar popcorn mix of Crate.

They enjoyed a different tailgating scene than they see in Florida, with people sitting around roaring fireplaces and kids playing roller hockey in the parking lot.

“It was fun,” Siciliano said. “And we thought that would be a great excuse to come see (Yonker).”

Celebrating a birthday and anniversary

Clint and Keri Kelly didn’t live long in South Tampa, but that was enough to enjoy back-to-back Stanley Cup championships from the Lightning the past two seasons.

That’s why they decided to celebrate Keri’s 36th birthday and the couple’s third wedding anniversary in Nashville this weekend.

The couple looked forward to witnessing history as the Lightning played their first NHL outdoor game. As a bonus, they got to see the Stanley Cup for the first time in person at a fan event outside the stadium.

Hearing Tampa Bay fans chant their support for the team from inside bars as they strolled through Nashville was just an appetizer before seeing their favorite players go head-to-head under the stadium lights. Keri was hoping for a shutout from Andrei Vasilevskiy, Clint a goal from Brayden Point.

Clint, 33, said it was an experience he will never forget.

“We’re just waiting for that (goosebumps) moment,” he said on Saturday afternoon. “Hearing that, ‘Let’s go Lightning!’ singing for the first time outside with all the Lightning fans that will be here in Nashville is going to be cool.

Contact Mari Faiello at [email protected]. Follow @faiello_mari.

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