Predators’ proposal to operate Centennial Sportsplex deferred after board questions

The Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation deferred action on a proposed lease giving the Nashville Predators operational control of the Centennial Sportsplex ice rinks and concession area (agenda item 10-25-02). The board asked for additional information and directed questions to be submitted to Director Odom by Oct. 21.

The proposal presented by representatives of the Predators would transfer day-to-day operation of both Centennial ice rinks and the concession area to the team. In return, the Predators said they would fund major capital improvements, assume insurance and operating costs for the leased premises, and share any net profits from rink operations with Metro Parks. The Predators’ presentation emphasized using private investment to eliminate Metro’s annual operating subsidy for the rinks and to finance roughly $30 million of capital work the team said will be needed over the next two decades.

Jordan Rippy, who signed up to speak during public comment on the Predators item, told the board she feared the arrangement would raise costs for users and reduce access. “If participation cost models are made to match the existing Ford centers, this will increase youth participation cost by $675 per player on average annually. For adult recreational players, average playing costs will increase by $662 per player annually,” Rippy said.

Predators representatives said their goal is to broaden access, not reduce it. In a roughly 20-minute presentation, the Predators’ speaker said the team wants to cover ongoing capital needs and the facility’s operating subsidy, to free Metro funds for other park uses, and to run Centennial “fairly consistent with Ford Ice Centers.” The speaker said the training/administrative expansion for the Predators would not add ice surfaces; it would expand locker rooms, training, video, office and support space from about 9,000 square feet to roughly 30,000 square feet on two floors while keeping ice availability unchanged.

Predators representatives described a history of partnerships with Metro Parks and other local institutions. They said the team operates programs that provide equipment and free instruction for many youth players at their Ford facilities and expressed intent to continue legacy programs at Centennial. The team also told the board it does not expect to generate a profit at the facility immediately and that any revenue-sharing arrangement would apply to net profits rather than gross revenue.

Board members pressed Predators representatives for details on revenue sharing, staffing, and branding. John Holmes, introduced during the discussion to summarize Centennial’s recent point-of-sale results, said the facility’s ice rental revenue increased after a fee change and provided a three‑year revenue snapshot. Predators representatives said they will offer jobs to existing Centennial staff, but acknowledged some employees near pension or vesting thresholds might remain Metro employees. They said early conversations had explored arrangements in which Metro employees continue on Metro payroll while the Predators reimburse Metro for their hours.

Figure-skating and community program representatives urged that existing permit holders and community groups retain access. Robert Briley (representing CityScape, a figure-skating organization) told the board his group remains interested in competing for ice time and asked the board not to automatically renew current permits that expire Dec. 31 to allow competition for scheduling and access. Briley also said the current permit holder pays $138,000 a year and reported gross revenues of $685,000 in fiscal year 2024 for that permit activity.

The board did not vote on a lease at the meeting. Chair Michelle Steele announced the item would be deferred to the acquisition committee for further review. The board asked that any follow-up questions be submitted to Director Odom by Oct. 21 and that staff/workgroups provide additional financial and staffing detail to the acquisition committee ahead of future action.

What happens next: the acquisition committee will review the Predators’ lease proposal and the supplemental materials requested by the board; the board has not scheduled a vote and no final terms have been adopted.