12 things for Midstate sports fans to do this summer
The Predators' season has ended. The first college and pro football games are not scheduled for several months. What do Midstate sports fanatics do with their time?
Here are a dozen suggestions to keep Midstate sports fanatics busy until Labor Day:
NFL DRAFT
Thursday-Saturday
The summer unofficially begins this week with the NFL Draft. What will the Titans do with the No. 2 pick when the event begins Thursday night? Will they draft quarterbacks Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota? Will they choose linebacker Dante Fowler or defensive end Leonard Williams? Will they trade the pick? The first round will be held Thursday, the second and third rounds on Friday and rounds four-seven on Saturday. The Titans will hold a draft party at LP Field, beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday. If you can't get to LP Field, watch it on ESPN starting at 7 p.m. Thursday, 6 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday.
FAIRGROUNDS SPEEDWAY
Saturday, June 6, July 11, Aug. 1
The Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville has four points races scheduled before Labor Day. There are eight divisions that all race those nights. General admission tickets are $10, but discounts are available for children, seniors and military personnel.
IROQUOIS STEEPLECHASE
May 9
The steeplechase race will again be held at Percy Warner Park with a crowd of 25,000 expected. This year marks the 74th running of the event. There are seven races scheduled, including the $150,000 Calvin Houghland Iroquois Hurdle Stakes that was won by Divine Fortune in 2014. by For more information about the event and ticket packages, call 1-800-619-4802.
VENOM
May 17, 29 and June 12
The Professional Indoor Football League champions have three home games remaining in their 12-game regular season. They play Columbus (Ohio) at 2 p.m. May 17, Marion (Ga.) at 7 p.m. May 29 and Erie (Pa.) at 7 p.m. June 12. All games are played at Municipal Auditorium. The Venom are the defending PIFL champions. Tickets range from $12-$40.
ROLLER DERBY
May 30, June 13, Aug. 1
The Nashville Rollergirls have four home dates at Municipal Auditorium this summer. The local team faces the Columbia Quad Squad on May 30, the Red River Sirens on June 13, the Ohio Roller Girls on July 18 and an opponent to be announced on Aug. 1. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.
NCAA BASEBALL TOURNAMENT
May 29
Vanderbilt hopes to begin defense of its College World Series title in late May. The Commodores will likely host a four-team regional at Hawkins Field. If they win that tournament, they'd advance to a best-of-three Super Regional series the following weekend. The College World Series begins June 13 in Omaha, Neb. The best-of-three championship series will be played June 22-24.
MLB DRAFT
June 8
Vanderbilt could have as many as three players selected in the top 10 picks of the Major League Baseball first-year draft on June 8. Pitchers Carson Fulmer and Walker Buehler and infielder Dansby Swanson are expected to be selected early and offered high-dollar contracts. The first round will be broadcast live on the MLB Network.
TITANS CAMP
Late July
The Titans have not announced when training camp will begin at Saint Thomas Spars Park. Many of the practices are open to the public. The Titans will play two preseason games at LP Field (vs. St. Louis at 7 p.m. Aug. 23 and vs. Minnesota at 7 p.m. Sept. 3).
LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES
Aug. 20-30
Will the Midstate have a representative in the Little League World Series for a fourth year in a row? Goodletsville won the U.S. championship in 2012, South Nashville advanced to the World Series in 2013 and '14. To get to Williamsport, Pa., for the World Series, local teams must win district, state and regional titles. The World Series is scheduled Aug. 20-30 at Lamade and Volunteer stadiums. All World Series games are broadcast on television.
PREP FOOTBALL
Aug. 21
It's never to early to start thinking about high school football. The season begins Aug. 21 with opening week games. The TSSA has announced that it will no longer refer to the first week schools can play as Week 0. It will now be called Week 1. Schools play up to 10 games over an 11-week regular-season that concludes Oct. 30-31.
SOUNDS
Home games through Sept. 3
The Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland A's are playing their inaugural season at First Tennessee Park. The Sounds play 72 home games, including 13 Fridays, 11 Saturdays and 10 Sundays. Single-game tickets range from $7-32. If you can't get to a game, but want to get a view of the new park, tune in the CBS Sports Network on June 4 when the Sounds' game against Salt Lake City will be broadcast as part of the Minor League Baseball National Game Of The Week package.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL OPENERS
Sept. 5
Tennessee and Vanderbilt open their college football seasons Sept. 5 in Nashville. The Vols host Bowling Green at LP Field, while the Commodores host Western Kentucky. Official game times and television broadcast networks have not been announced.
Reach Dave Ammenheuser at 615-259-8352 and on Twitter @NashSportsEd.