6 Must-Try New Menu Items At Nashville Predators Games

NASHVILLE, TN — The Nashville Predators begin a defense of the Western Conference title when the National Hockey League regular season kicks off October 5, returning to Bridgestone Arena for the regular season home opener October 10. When the puck drops, there will be plenty of new food and drink options available inside the shiny building at Fifth & Broadway that got $6 million in renovations.

As part of the rotating schedule of upgrades, most of the arena's renovations came on the third level, where there are 20 new points of sale at concession stands and bars, which should shorten wait times and alleviate concourse congestion. At a new bar specializing in frozen drinks outside Section 310, there are 76 cell phone charging stations.

Did someone say cocktails?

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Yes, the new bar offers three frozen drink options: the classic margarita, of course, plus a bourbon sweet tea and frozé (that's intended to rhyme with rosé and was the best of the bunch, followed by the sweet tea). All are made with actual liquor or wine, as opposed to malt liquor, and pack a refreshing punch.

Here are five other must-try items new at the arena this season:

Chicken Fried Chicken Burger

Offered at the burger station in the downstairs food court near the main entrance, the sandwich puts a chicken-fried chicken patty topped with mashed potatoes and just a few crucial drips of hot sauce between a bun. Basically, a portable version of the roadhouse chicken-fried chicken dinner.

Catfish Tacos

After the whole "instrument of a crime" debacle during the Stanley Cup Final, pushing the already beloved catfish to de facto mascot status among Predators faithful, the bewhiskered bottom-feeding piscine was an inevitable addition to the arena menu this season. Fried fillets — surprisingly mild-flavored ones, at that — in a soft-taco shell, topped with a spicy slaw, fresh pico de gallo and a lime wedge will make their debut at the taco stand in the downstairs food court. Catfish nuggets with remoulade will be available in mini-buckets throughout the arena, as well.

Hot Chicken Mac And Cheese

As the cult of hot chicken has spread out of Nashville and now has outposts far and wide — even available at KFC, for some reason — some chefs have put twists on the recipe, sometimes putting our beloved cayenne rub where it doesn't belong (looking at you with your Nashville hot shrimp, Red Lobster). During last season's playoffs, a hot chicken mac and cheese made a limited release at the arena, but now it will be a mainstay. The mix of mild cheese, hearty pasty, piquant poultry and topped with the subtlety of chopped bread-and-butter pickle chips is mouth-watering delight. It's available at the hot chicken stand outside section 109.

The Western Conference Champ Hot Dog

There's no better way to celebrate a franchise first than with new frankfurter; frankly, there's no better way to celebrate anything than with a hot dog. The Western Conference Champ, available at the food court hot dog stand, is an all-beef hot dog, topped with in-house smoked brisket, Tabasco sauce, onions and white barbecue sauce. Also, all hot dogs at the hot dog stand will now be available in regular and footlong.

Turkey Meatloaf Burger

Available through the fall at Tavern 96, this is basically a Thanksgiving dinner sandwich. A turkey meatloaf patty is topped with cranberry chutney, cornbread stuffing and gravy. It's health food because it has fruit!

All photos by J.R. Lind, Patch staff