Downtown packed for Stanley Cup Final debut in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Nashville Predators and their fans finally have the game they've been waiting so very long to host.

The first Stanley Cup Final not only in the franchise's history, but also the first major league championship game ever played in Tennessee with Game 3 against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night.

Nashville shut down a chunk of Broadway where the honky tonks and bars line the street for a free concert by country superstar Alan Jackson. Fans packed shoulder to shoulder nearly an hour before Jackson's concert with the street then being used for an outdoor viewing party.

Predators forward Harry Zolnierczyk says the atmosphere was crazy through the first three rounds of the playoffs and now sees Nashville revamping everything downtown. He says the Predators are excited for Game 3.

The defending champion Penguins lead the best-of-seven series 2-0.

---

More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockey