Sabertooth Sports & Entertainment To Open New Ice Center In Sumner County

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Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Predators

Sabertooth Sports & Entertainment LLC and the Predators have announced the building of a new ice center in Sumner County at The Goat Farm.

The new development is part of a public-private partnership between the SS&E, Sumner County, the City of Gallatin and the City of Hendersonville. Stratos Development will serve as the main developer of the facility at The Goat Farm–a 54-acre Sumner County landmark accessible from Nashville Pike and Shute Lane–with assistance from longtime Predators Season-Ticket Citizens Randy Smith and Alex Smith.

“As I’ve said before, the environment we’ve created in Antioch and Bellevue–and will create in Montgomery County–is something everyone in Smashville should be proud of, and we are thrilled to be able to bring that same enthusiasm for growing the game to Sumner County,” says Predators President and CEO Sean Henry. “Since we first opened Ford Ice Center Antioch in 2014, we’ve been able to see the benefits of our public-private partnerships come to life, from the economic impact to the growth of youth and adult hockey. As we move forward with this development in Sumner County, we want to thank county leadership, the cities of Gallatin and Hendersonville, Stratos Development, Randy and Alex Smith and the NHL and NHLPA for helping turn what once was a vision of expansion in the Middle Tennessee community into a reality in the near future.”

The development of the roughly 100,000-square-foot facility, which will feature two sheets of ice, public and private locker rooms, a weight room and hockey pro shop, among other amenities, will be partially funded by the NHL and NHLPA Industry Growth Fund. On top of an already robust schedule of programming for youth and adult hockey, girls hockey and figure skating, the Predators and Ford Ice Centers were awarded funds from the IGF in October 2020 for further investment in the development of youth hockey in Middle Tennessee.

Using these funds, the Predators have taken their commitment to growing girls hockey and learn-to-skate programs to a new level – 350 girls were introduced to the sport this past winter with a 20-week training program that culminated with a free tournament at the end of the season, and through the Go Skate! program, 600 kids learned how to skate for the first time with world-class coaching from the Scott Hamilton Skating Academy.

“I am very excited about this state-of-the-art ice hockey facility and quality commercial development coming to Sumner County and the City of Gallatin,” says Sumner County Mayor Anthony Holt. “This event center will create numerous opportunities for our young people and families that are passionate about this growing and vibrant sport. I would like to thank the Nashville Predators organization for their involvement in branding this facility that will enhance Sumner County’s ability to attract visitors and showcase the many amenities our County has to offer. This facility will enrich the quality of life for our citizens and set our county apart as a regional destination.”

This is the fourth location SS&E and the Nashville Predators have created to grow the sport of hockey throughout Middle Tennessee. In addition to the Ford Ice Centers in Antioch and Bellevue, SS&E will manage soon-to-be-named, in partnership with F&M Bank, Montgomery County Event Center in Clarksville, which is scheduled to open during the 2022-23 season.

In addition to the planned state-of-the-art amenities, the facility will host hockey tournaments as well as on-ice events and competitions similar to the existing Ford Ice Centers in Antioch and Bellevue. The two additional ice sheets in the community will allow the Predators to offer similar programs in Sumner County, such as learn-to-skate, youth and adult hockey and Scott Hamilton Skating Academy lessons and events.

Steven Boero
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