Two days after the logo was revealed, the organization hosted what was essentially its first public open house, known as the Ice Breaker Bash, at Bridgestone Arena. So thus, the Pred head was born, with the name Predators coming just under two months later (more on that in November). The saber-toothed tiger logo was co-designed by JDK Design of Burlington, Vermont and Dye, Van Mol & Lawrence of Nashville. The cave, located beneath the building, is preserved under concrete for historic and educational purposes. The discovery, made in August 1971, marks only the fifth of its kind in North America. Scientists believe that sometime during the last glacial period (15,000-80,000 years ago) part of the cave was the den of the saber-toothed tiger. Radiocarbon tests on the specimen revealed that it could have possibly been one of the last of its breed to exist. Further digging revealed a cave containing the nine-inch fang and a foreleg bone of a saber-toothed tiger, extinct for potentially 10,000 years. Construction workers drilled through 20 feet of solid rock before coming to a soft muddy area. In May of 1971, excavation began at the downtown Nashville site of what today is the 28-story UBS Tower (formerly First American Center). The Predators unveiled their logo, a saber-toothed tiger, in Nashville's downtown First American Center on September 25, 1997, 26 years after a fang and foreleg bone of a saber-toothed tiger were found in a cave just below the building's address. Forward Andrew Brunette scored the first goal.From the Team History section of : It was the only sold out game of the Predators' first five bouts in Nashville.Three nights later, on October 13, they defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3–2 for their first win. The Predators first took the ice on October 10, 1998, where they lost 1–0 at home to the Florida Panthers. The $15 million payroll of the team was the lowest of the NHL. The city has engaged an affiliate of the team to operate the arena and that agreement protects the city against annual arena operating losses over approximately $3.8 million. When awarded a franchise, the city of Nashville paid 31.50% of the $80 million fee to join the League. Leipold shot this rumor down, saying "here is no chance."
One rumor had Leipold trading franchises with the Edmonton Oilers, with the Oilers moving to Nashville and the Nashville expansion franchise moving to Houston, Texas. Three candidates were culled from 75: "Ice Tigers," "Fury" and "Attack." Leipold added his own submission to the vote, "Predators." On November 13, Leipold revealed at a press conference that his submission had won out and that the new franchise would be known as the "Nashville Predators."Īt one point, rumors began to circulate that the team would move before the first puck ever hit the ice. Once the logo was unveiled, the franchise held a vote among fans to choose a name. On September 25, 1997, Leipold and team president Jack Diller held a press conference where they unveiled the franchise's new logo, a saber-toothed cat (Smilodon floridanus).The logo was a reference to a partial Smilodon skeleton found beneath downtown Nashville in 1971 during construction of the First American National Bank building, now the UBS Tower.
0 kommentar(er)
