NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) -
There may not be an NHL action for now, but it won't stop the Nashville Predators from still hitting the ice.
For the first time, team president Sean Henry went on the record Friday about the league lockout, how long it could last and what the organization will do in the meantime.
"It's not where we want to be, but it's where we find ourselves," Henry said in his monthly update to the Nashville Sports Authority.
Henry made his first public remarks about the ongoing NHL lockout, and while he didn't go into any specifics he expressed hope the league will return to action soon.
"It'll be one of the strongest event years that we could ever have. Unfortunately, that's buoyed by the news of the lockout right now, but hopefully that comes, you know, back very soon. And when it does, we're going to be a stronger organization, because we're doing the right things right now to complement all of our events that again will further complement what we do on the ice," he said.
The NHL canceled its pre-season when the players and the league could not agree to a new collective bargaining agreement by last Saturday.
But, Henry told the authority members Friday he believes this will be "a fairly short lockout."
Henry also confirmed the team will not layoff or furlough employees during the lockout, and that seems to be a saving grace for morale at the team's headquarters downtown.
"You know, it should be down, of course, but it's actually just the opposite because when you look at the announcements that we've just done because of our owners, people are pretty excited about knowing that they shouldn't worry about anything except doing their job and doing what's fun about it," Henry said.
In spite of the lockout, Henry was optimistic about the team, Bridgestone Arena and the future for both.
Changes can expect to see include new signage to match the famed Hatch Show Print, new entryways better showcasing the team, an outdoor video wall bringing the inside action outside to crowds on the plaza and food options featuring Nashville names.
"You want your fans to have that attachment. You want people to walk through the building and virtually every week there's another new mural up," Henry said.
A $2-a-ticket capital fund surcharge will help pay for the upgrades inside the 15-year-old arena.
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