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‘Epic week’: Hockey, country music collide in Nashville

9 years ago in Sports

FILE -- In this June 5, 2017 file photo, people watch a pre-game concert as they wait to watch the broadcast of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals between the Nashville Predators and the Pittsburgh Penguins on Broadway in Nashville, Tenn. The Predators host Game 6 on Sunday evening at the same time that the annual CMA Music Festival holds its concert headlined by Keith Urban and Brad Paisley in nearby Nissan Stadium, the home of the Tennessee Titans. The honky-tonk lined blocks in between the two venues are expected to packed with even more fans, and city officials expect a total of 100,000 people to throng the downtown streets. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File) Photo: Associated Press

ERIK SCHELZIG, Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country music is always a big draw in Nashville, but the convergence of a major sports championship with one of the city’s biggest music events is reaching its crescendo this weekend in Tennessee’s capital city.

The Nashville Predators host Game 6 of the NHL Finals on Sunday evening at the same time that the annual CMA Music Festival holds its closing concert headlined by Keith Urban and Brad Paisley.

The honky-tonk lined blocks in between the two venues are expected to be packed with even more fans, and city officials expect 100,000 people to throng the downtown streets.

With enthusiasm for both country and hockey amping up to volumes never before seen in Nashville, the dividing line between the two has become all but indistinguishable.