Nashville mayor Freddie O’Connell announces Oct. 10 as Predators Golden Pride Day

Getting out of work early to watch a hockey game might sound like a dream for some hockey fans.

For Nashville Predators fans, that might be a dream come true thanks to Nashville mayor Freddie O’Connell.

The newly elected mayor announced on Monday that Tuesday, Oct. 10 will be known as “Nashville Predators Golden Pride Day” to celebrate the start of the franchise’s 25th anniversary season. In the announcement, O’Connell asked Nashville employers to end the workday an hour early so Predators fans can be ready for the season opener that evening.

The Predators visit the Tampa Bay Lightning at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday to kick off the NHL season. The game will be broadcasted nationally on ESPN and ESPN+.

Tuesday also marks the 25th anniversary of Nashville’s first game in franchise history, which took place on Oct. 10, 1998 in front of a sellout crowd of 17,298 at Bridgestone Arena.

Not a bad way to kick off the NHL season.