Years before loyal scores of NHL fans filled Bridgestone Arena to cheer on the Nashville Predators, a much smaller — but no less loyal — band of hockey fans filled Municipal Auditorium to cheer on the ECHL’s Nashville Knights.
An expansion franchise in the East Coast Hockey League in 1989, the Knights played seven seasons, hosting opponents like the Greensboro Monarchs, the Louisville Icehawks, and the Knoxville Cherokees. A third-tier minor league team, the Knights were Nashville’s third attempt at professional hockey after the Dixie Flyers (1962-1971) and the South Stars (1981-1982).
Attendance at Knights games was impressive, considering the nascency of professional hockey in the South. They drew north of 6,000 fans per night at their peak, pulling in over 100,000 fans during their first season in 1989-90. Prior to the team’s home opener on Oct. 30, 1989, Knights official Scott Greer proudly announced they’d met their goal of 400 season tickets sold.
Fan support swelled in the first few years, with promotions helping drive attendance including “Taco Bell night” helped get a then ECHL record 8,805 fans in the building to watch a 5-3 win over the Johnstown Chiefs. Low ticket prices helped as well — general admission for the home opener was just $2.98.
During their seven seasons in Nashville, the Knights made the ECHL playoffs five times, making it to the semifinal round twice (1993, 1995).
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Fan interest dissipated through the mid-90’s and the Knights moved to Florida in 1996 to become the Pensacola Ice Pilots. But the cultural impact of hockey in Nashville stayed and many fans remained for NHL expansion into Nashville in 1997. One sect of particularly raucous fans, who named their sections with apt medieval nomenclature like “The Dungeon” and “The Kastle”, formed what is now known as Cellblock 303 in Bridgestone Arena.
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The Knights’ all-time leading scorer was Trevor Jobe, a left-handed center who scored 168 goals in 166 games over four seasons (1990 – 1994). Other notable players include 11-year NHL veteran winger Lou Franceschetti and center Glen Metropolit, who played professional hockey up until his retirement in 2017.
