Nashville Predators employees work hard, play hard

Employees at the Nashville Predators say they work in “Smashville.”

It’s an affectionate term that celebrates how professional hockey has dominated sporting events in Nashville – a city renowned for its country music scene.  

For employees, it’s also a reminder that they work for a great company. Employees are not just part of the hockey action. They also enjoy competitive benefits, an inclusive environment and a community atmosphere.

“It’s so hard not to feel a sense of excitement coming into work every day, knowing you are going to make memorable experiences for fans night in and night out,” said Sara Shear, senior director for wellness and engagement for the Nashville Predators. “In addition to working in such a unique and fun environment, we have some of the best perks and benefits around and have created a positive culture that resonates with our staff.”

Employees enjoy wellness benefits such as a stipend toward gym memberships, massages and workout classes; a hybrid work schedule; and mental health therapists who are on staff. Employees also receive a free membership to Headspace, a mental health support site.

“We encourage ‘even-strength scheduling,’ borrowing a hockey term, to promote a healthy work/life balance and ensure staff are taking time away from work, scheduling themselves and their departments fairly and giving everyone equal time in and out of the office,” Shear said.

Employee feedback is important to the organization. “We survey our staff twice a year and turn their suggestions into action. These ideas have resulted into breakroom improvements, including the addition of an espresso machine, a flavored water station, and healthy snacks,” said Shear. “We have created a weekly staff newsletter, The Smashville Insider, to make sure we are communicating key information to staff. We have also come up with a new employee recognition program, Appreciation Pucks, which members of our leadership team use to recognize staff who are going above and beyond in their area. These were all initiatives that were made possible through the feedback we received directly from our staff surveys.”

DEI is also important at the Nashville Predators. In 2020, the company created the GUIDER Board ­­– which stands for growth, understanding, inclusion, diversity, equality and representation – making sure that it is part of every business operation. Employees also participate in the monthly Gather With GUIDER program, a monthly educational session that addresses those areas. And last summer, the Nashville Predators hired a director of DEI, Amy Bratten, who continues to expand the programs.

The hockey team is housed in Bridgestone Arena, located on Broadway, in the heart of the city. It is award winning, and one of the busiest venues in the world. There’s a constant of flow of people coming in and out of the facility and from the lively music scene downtown. The arena also recently became the first U.S. building to host the NHL Draft and Awards in the same year, and in recent seasons has hosted one of the most successful All-Star Weekends in NHL history and a sold-out Stadium Series game at nearby Nissan Stadium.

Together, the employees at the Nashville Predators work toward creating the best atmosphere for the hockey team and fans. Many employees also have an opportunity to sell season-ticket packages to gain fans access to Smashville Loyal membership, individual tickets and concert tickets – and if they reach their goal, they are rewarded with an-off season trip to Las Vegas.

“We have a ONE GOAL mentality – to make Bridgestone Arena the No. 1 sports and entertainment venue in the United States anchored by a Stanley Cup winning franchise,” Shear said. “We always say we work hard, but we play hard, too.”

Employees also give back to the community. Each employee is required to complete 40 hours of community service annually through the organization’s Hearts of GOLD initiative. They are encouraged to volunteer during work hours to do things such as read books to elementary school students, clean up parks, coach local basketball teams, help out at church, sort items at food banks or build playgrounds in underserved communities.

When something happens in Nashville, such a flood or tornado, the Nashville Predators lead and help residents. After the Christmas Day bombing in 2020, the arena became the headquarters for the city’s recovery efforts.

“It’s important for us to find ways to give back to the community,” Shear said.

The company also offers opportunities for employees to grow and try new positions.

“We have a wide range of job opportunities across all of our properties: Bridgestone Arena, our three Ford Ice Centers (community hockey rinks, which host youth and adult hockey and skating lessons) and F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville, Tennessee,” Shear said. “Bridgestone Arena, which has the distinction of being one of the busiest venues in the United States, also has many opportunities including marketing, accounting, operations and sales, just to name a few.”

To learn more about the benefits and culture at the Nashville Predators, visit nashvillepredators.com.