CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Clarksville-Montgomery County’s new F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center was a crowded place Saturday as it hosted a Grand Opening Celebration and Ribbon Cutting at 101 Main Street.

The celebration, which arena officials say drew more than 4,000 visitors, had a little bit of everything for everyone. It was an interactive experience with family-friendly activities. There were arena tours along with a chance to meet the coaches and players from Austin Peay State University.

Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Mayor Joe Pitts and Cindy Pitts pose with employees of CDE Lightband at the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Louie the Lightning Bug and Gnash enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Featured speakers Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden, Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts, F&M Bank President & CEO Sammy Stuard, Danny Butler, Gerald Harrison and Sean Henry, at the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
President and CEO of F&M Bank, Sammy Stuard speaking at the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts speaking at the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Gerald Harrison speaking at the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Sean henry speaking at the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden speaking at the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts, APSU President Michael Licari, Mia Golden, Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden, Jim Durrett, Sean Henry & Gerald Harrison cut the ribbon at the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy an explosion of confetti at the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The Coca Cola Bear enjoys the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
A youngster enjoys the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Jim Durrett and Mary Durrett Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
APSU’s Gov and fans the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Austin Peay students enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Stray Nova performs at the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Kids enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Kids enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Kids enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden and family at the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
APSU Basketball Coach Corey Gipson and a fan at the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Stray Nova performs at the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Stray Nova performs at the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Stray Nova performs at the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
APSU Basketball players at the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
APSU Basketball Players at the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
APSU Basketball Players at the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Kids enjoy hockey at the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Kids enjoy hockey at the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests enjoy the Grand Opening Celebration of F&M Bank Arena and Ford Ice Center in Clarksville on Jul. 15, 2023. (Lee Erwin)

One of the most popular activities was free public skating, and a little Predators Ice Jamboree in the Ford Ice Center. Concessions were also available along with a number of vendors with free giveaways. The local band Stray Nova provided live music for the celebration from the stage on the arena floor.

At the ribbon cutting, Sammy Stuard, President, and CEO of F&M Bank, welcomed everyone to the arena and said the excitement was unbelievable. “This has been a journey that has come to an end, but it’s the start of a new journey with what this new arena is going to mean to Clarksville, Tennessee and all of the surrounding area,” Stuard said.

Stuard added that F&M Bank Arena was not going to be just for Clarksville, but also all of the surrounding communities are going to enjoy the arena. “It’s going to be an entertainment center second to none, and F&M Bank is proud to be a part of it.”

City of Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts, Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden, Danny Butler Sr., Vice President of Sabretooth Sports & Entertainment, and President and CEO of the Nashville Predators Sean Henry also spoke at the event. Gerald Harrison, Austin Peay Athletic Director, called F&M Bank Arena the home of the Govs, and led the crowd in a cheer of “Let’s go Peay.”

To find out more about all that F&M Bank Arena has to offer along with upcoming concerts, shows, events and activities, visit myfmbankarena.com.