My study was intended to test why the Nashville Predators have become so popular in the State of Tennessee in the past two years.

assumptions: My assumptions were that the initial spike in popularity started with the Playoffs and the Predators making it to the Stanley Cup. I also assumed that Tennesseans were more attracted to the sport and the team because of its different, less proper, culture compared to other hockey teams.

I found that the news focused on the Stanley Cup and the Stanley Cup did cause and original spike, but it was not the main reason for the rise in popularity. My data suggests that the newness and culture of the sport and the team is what has attracted so many new fans.

A quote from the interview that was conducted was, “Fans go to a different hockey game and its more laid back, predators games are crazier than other hockey games and fans are more intense.” This showed me that new fans are attracted to the Predators specifically barbecue of the environment of the games and the team. A Tennessean might have been to another hockey game and while the sport was new and interesting the “proper” culture of the games or team is what may have caused them to not become a part of the hockey fandom for that team. Tennesseans after attending or watching a Nashville Predators game are attracted to the brutally hilarious chants and general craziness of the Predators fan base.