(frank) the national anthem
- BINGO!

No matter the sport, I stay on the concourse during the anthem. If I had one more wanna-be 'patriot' tell me to remove my hat or to stand up I was going to explode. Also - the Star Spangled Banner is an awful tune (song, composition, whatever it's called)

I'd bet a lot of money none of them (who were old enough) signed up for the first Gulf War (in 1990 ... the one we though we may lose).

Jim Balsille.
- gergeswillems

I know, "that guy" was a choice

Jim Balsille. He pi$$ed off the NHL so much they wanted nothing to do with him. His end game was to get a team in Hamilton. Fail.
- gergeswillems

Balsille, an absolute genius who was telling fans in Nashville there was nothing to worry about, while at the same time trying to pre-sell season tickets in Hamilton to a team that didn't exist yet for a franchise he didn't officially own yet. I know a place he can stick his blackberries.

Blessing in disguise though. Like Farooge said, that moment galvanized the fanbase, and started the slow but steady growth in interest for the team from a city that, admittedly, was largely apathetic towards the Preds the first decade or so.

I have only been to 11 arenas and here is how I rank them for fan experience- not nicest arena or the new ones would obviously win (ranking regular season games)

1- Nashville
2- Vegas
3- Montreal
4- Madison
5- Calgary
6- Dallas
7- Phoenix
8- Edmonton
9- Vancouver
10- Anaheim
11- St. Louis

Interesting how our experiences are vastly different. Nashville is my least favorite of the 7 I have been to so far. Dirty arena, nasty fans who were belligerent and trying to start fights...just a horrible trip. Our youth teams in the area have had similar experiences and a lot of us have declined tickets when we have had tournaments in the area. Great food options around the rink though.

Omitting the Blues because of home team bias, the 3 I have enjoyed most were Chicago, LA and Columbus.

Balsille, an absolute genius who was telling fans in Nashville there was nothing to worry about, while at the same time trying to pre-sell season tickets in Hamilton to a team that didn't exist yet for a franchise he didn't officially own yet. I know a place he can stick his blackberries.

Blessing in disguise though. Like Farooge said, that moment galvanized the fanbase, and started the slow but steady growth in interest for the team from a city that, admittedly, was largely apathetic towards the Preds the first decade or so.
- Squatchy

Remember Balsille tried to buy the Penguins too. And in Pittsburgh, we all knew what that meant. HAMILTON. Thankfully the NHL and the Maple Leafs didnt let that happen, Mario came up big and well... its all good in Pgh now