Gnash

Gnash's History
(The following is taken from Gnash's Biography on the Nashville Predators website.)

A construction crew during 1971 found bones of a saber-tooth tiger buried under the city, proving they once lived in this region. The saber-tooth tiger survived during the Ice Age longer than any other mammal, making it the dominant animal on Earth for thousands of years.

It was believe that after their discovery in 1971, no other archaeologist would make a find that matched. In 1994, however, while digging the foundation for the new Nashville Arena (now the Bridgestone Arena), a greater discovery was made. Deep beneath the surface, drills uncovered a baby saber-tooth tiger, frozen in a huge block of ice. The site had laid undisturbed for millions of years.

Instead of subjecting the tiger to an existence of scientific research and living in a cage, they tried to find a place where he would feel at home. They knew he needed a place that felt like a cave, where he would hear the familiar roar of his own kind, and he definitely needed ice.

The crew placed the frozen cub in the middle of the arena to thaw. Upon returning the next morning, they found that the ice had melted and the cub was gone. After a several day search, they could not find the tiger. Thinking he would never return, they gave up. What they didn't know was that the lone saber-tooth had went in search of other tigers.

After many years, he gave up hope of ever finding any others of his kind. Then, on October 10, 1998, he heard a familiar roar. Following the sound, he found thousands of Predators fans cheering for their team on Opening Night. He knew he had found his home.

Now that he's grown, Gnash lives within the dark corners of the Bridgestone Arena. He only comes out of hiding when he hears the familiar roar of Predators fans, reminding him of home.