Preds Installing New Dasher Boards, Glass System Ahead of Season

Speed, skill, finesse - they're attributes we all love about the game of hockey. Of course, seeing an opposing player be leveled into the glass at Bridgestone Arena is pretty great, too.
Well, body checks at the home of the Nashville Predators are about to get even better.
As part of the annual offseason renovations at 501 Broadway, the Preds are in the midst of installing a brand-new dasher board and glass system ahead of ice returning to the building next week.

The glass has more flexibility than ever before, making it not only safer for the players who are applying and receiving the body check, but let's face it - with the apparatus set to give twice as much as it used to, it's bound to catch the eyes of all in attendance.
"That glass is really going to move a lot, which brings another level of excitement to the game," Predators Vice President of Facility Operations Tim Friedenberger said. "Also, you won't just see the glass move where the hit took place, you'll see that glass actually move about 10 to 15 feet away from the hit, almost like a wave effect. It'll be pretty cool for the fans when they see the hit, and almost feel it, in a way."
When the team heads out on the road and the glass is taken down for concerts and other events at the arena, it'll be better protected than ever before, too. New carts have been purchased to transport the glass from the ice surface to the storage areas, keeping each piece separate from one another to prevent scratches and improve clarity.
Then, there are the new features to the boards themselves.
"Player safety is the No. 1 thing that we considered when we looked at dasher board systems," Friedenberger said. "Between our hockey operations and facility operations departments, we worked together to design this new system, completely custom for us."

Those improvements include new storage areas on the player benches to be utilized by trainers and equipment managers alike, making it easier for everyone to do their jobs more efficiently.
There is also a feature that everyone hopes will never have to be used, but it brings added peace of mind with it in place.
Directly behind the Nashville bench, a door has been installed to provide streamlined access in the event team doctors need to get from the stands to the ice in the event of an emergency. Before, essential medical personnel had to climb over railings and boards to get to those in need. Not anymore.
The construction across the arena floor will continue into next week before Friedenberger and his staff begin the process of making ice on Tuesday.
More surprises will come prior to the Preds hosting their first preseason game on Sept. 21 against Tampa Bay. It's all part of an effort to continually make Bridgestone Arena a world-class facility - no matter what side of the glass you're on.