NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Nashville Predators want the reins to control and operate the Centennial Sportsplex, which is the team’s practice facility and community ice rink.

But residents are voicing serious concerns that the move could go against their best interests.

At a Metro Parks and Recreation Board Meeting on Tuesday, neighbors said that if the Preds take over, all the building upgrades would benefit the team instead of the community.

The Predators plan to run the rink similarly to how they operate the Ford Ice Centers in Bellevue and Antioch, which were both collaborative projects between the Predators and Metro Parks.

If approved, they would be responsible for all capital expenses such as maintenance and repairs, which could cost around $30 million.

Nashville resident Emily Walker has a son who plays hockey. Walker and her family have spent several years at the Ford Ice Center and recently switched locations to Centennial. Walker said the community at Centennial has been a breath of fresh air.

“These people are like our extended family; whenever we’ve had a family emergency, they’ve always helped when we needed it,” Walker said.

Walker is concerned about the proposed agreement between the Centennial Sportsplex and the Predators. She believes certain promises in the agreement, like capital improvements of the building, are going to be private for the Predators' use instead of the community. Other issues, like shared revenue between the Predators and the city, and the cost of ice rentals being high on the list of concerns.

“I know the Predators have said they intended to reduce ice prices, but they already have a monopoly on those and can do that at their own Ford Ice Centers now if they chose to, but they have not so do not believe that,” Walker said.

Neighbors said the cost of ice rentals and the lack of control from Metro Parks is a serious concern. Another opposer of the lease agreement came forward and said the deal would ultimately be in the Predators' best interest, and any resident who has a concern won’t be able to get answers from Metro Parks but from Predators leadership instead.

“It’s no longer our ice arena. It’s somebody else’s,” concerned Nashville neighbor Ryder said. “They have the discretion to operate and maintain it as they see fit. That’s not what we should have our parks department be doing.”

The Predators sent News 2 the statement that was sent to Metro Parks and Recreation board members in late September. The statement reads in part:

Over the years, the Predators and Metro Parks have collaborated on successful public-private projects such as Ford Ice Center Antioch and Ford Ice Center Bellevue, playground builds, community ball-hockey rinks, and joint philanthropic initiatives. This proposal is not a new experiment, but rather, it’s a deliberate escalation of a proven partnership built on trust, shared goals, and mutual success. While we and the Mayor’s Office are extremely excited about how this deal will impact on the future of Centennial Sportsplex, we understand there will be questions, and we are committed to continued transparency and open dialogue about how this next chapter will benefit the public and the city as a whole. We have already begun the important process of engaging with stakeholders who will be most impacted by this change, including some engaged figure skating families and the Nashville Youth Hockey League (NYHL).

The lease agreement for the Sportsplex was deferred until Metro's next acquisition meeting in December.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/middle-tn-neighborhood-news/nashville-predators-look-to-operate-centennial-sportsplex-neighbors-say-it-will-go-against-their-best-interest/