Team Name and Logo

Predators name and logo rooted in history

The Predators unveiled their logo, a saber-toothed tiger, in Nashville's downtown First American Center on September 25, 1997, 26 years after a fang and foreleg bone of a saber-toothed tiger were found in a cave just below the building's address.

In May of 1971, excavation began at the downtown Nashville site of what today is the 28-story First American Center.  Construction workers drilled through 20 feet of solid rock before coming to a soft muddy area.  Further digging revealed a cave containing the nine-inch fang and a foreleg bone of a saber-toothed tiger, extinct for at least 10,000 years.

Radiocarbon tests on the specimen revealed that it could have possibly been one of the last of its breed to exist.  Scientists believe that some time during the last glacial period (15,000-80,000 years ago) part of the cave was the den of the saber-toothed tiger.

The discovery, made in August 1971, marks only the fifth of its kind in North America. The cave, located beneath the building, is preserved under concrete for historic and educational purposes.

The saber-toothed tiger logo was co-designed by JDK Design of Burlington, Vermont and Dye, Van Mol & Lawrence of Nashville.

Selection of the name

The naming of the Predators is a direct reflection of the fans of Nashville and their choice.

On September 27, 1997, Nashville's NHL expansion team hosted the Ice Breaker Bash to launch a season ticket campaign that would ultimately sell over 12,000 season tickets in just six months.

During the Bash and through focus groups and related surveys, fans selected the name "Predators" by an overwhelming two-to-one margin over the second choice.  On November 13, 1997, in front of 3,000 enthusiastic fans at The Wildhorse Saloon in downtown Nashville, the saber-toothed tiger logo was unveiled for the first time with the Predators insignia attached to it.

On February 12, 1998, Head Coach Barry Trotz and Assistant Coach Paul Gardner unveiled the Predators' inaugural home and away jerseys in front on 2,000 fans at Cool Springs Galleria. 

On November 21, 2001, the Predators debuted their third jersey with a 4-3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks at the Gaylord Entertainment Center.  The jersey features an "animated" saber-tooth tiger logo on the crest and also features tiger skulls on the shoulders.  The jerseys feature a double tone air-knit material for a shadowing effect and a new cut, featuring a square-neck and drop-tail design with a gold coloration.