Nashville versus Edmonton: Which is the Stanley Cup of communities?

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They’re a little bit Nashville but quite definitely a bit more Edmonton.

After living in Nashville for some 12 years and in Edmonton for just a couple, talk to top Edmonton Oilers defenceman Mattias Ekholm and his wife Ida Björnstad about what it’s like to live in both cities and you get some interesting answers.

Edmonton, the couple said, resonates because of its colder, more winter-like climate that echoes the part of Sweden where they’re originally from. Nashville, meanwhile, remains a favourite spot for them, especially considering two of their three children — William, age 6 and Maya, 3 — were born there. Their youngest, Leon, who is just one and was a bundle of joyous energy during this interview, was born after they moved here.

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But one thing is clear: there is no faceoff between the two cities for the Ekholm family. Each has its own strengths, each brings something different and each happens to have its own home-ice advantages.

Edmonton 1, Nashville 1

So what is it really like live in Nashville compared with Edmonton or vice versa? Well, you might just call it a tie game.

“Sweden to Edmonton is pretty close, but if you compare Nashville to Edmonton then you’re far apart,” said Ekholm pointing to a much warmer climate in the U.S. city where a pool and outdoor kitchen was a focal point of their former Nashville digs.

Here, meanwhile, the couple like that residential property lots are smaller, homes are closer together and they said this gives neighbours a better chance to get to know each other.

In Nashville, the couple lived in the neighbourhood of Green Hills, considered one of the most desirable areas to live in and is an affluent suburban enclave that also includes a high-end shopping scene. But it’s less than eight kilometres from downtown, where Ekholm patrolled the Nashville Predators defence at Bridgestone Arena.

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“Green Hills was gorgeous,” said Björnstad. “The neighbourhood was absolutely stunning.”

In Edmonton, the family lives in the central part of the city, also in a more affluent area but hardly considered suburban. It’s also not far from Rogers Place, the home of the Edmonton Oilers. That is important, said Björnstad, as the NHL arena has become the family’s second home.

‘Stay-at-home’ defenceman

On the ice, Ekholm is a strong two-way defenceman, but what are things like when he’s staying at home here?

“We have hockey on the TV almost 24/7,” said Björnstad, pointing to the large-screen TV in their open concept main floor, which houses the kitchen, dining and living spaces. “Mattias is addicted to hockey.”

The home, a newer built infill property with some character on the outside, comes in at about 3,500 square feet, which does not include the finished basement. Inside, the five-bedroom home has a Scandinavian feel, is more modern, and whites and neutrals play a predominant role in the design scheme.

A striking stairwell, with decorative wall moulding is a focal point, as is the kitchen with its stunning island. And while the main-floor TV is front and centre, one thing that stands out about this home is that it’s comfortable, very comfortable — it’s very tastefully decorated yet it’s not a home where you feel out of place; it’s very warm and welcoming.

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Head downstairs and that is even more evident, where work was being done at the time by designer Lauren Kyle (who is married to Oiler captain Connor McDavid) to finish off the space. It’s also a space where the children can have somewhat free rein, saving their toys from cluttering the main floor.

There’s a gym on the lower level, however, Ekholm points out he does most of his training at the arena rather than at home.

“We’re down to earth (people),” said Björnstad, noting they brought some of their stuff from Nashville and Kyle’s design skills have “made it a better home.”

Interestingly, when they were looking for their new home after Ekholm was traded from Nashville to Edmonton in February 2023, the couple were shown two specific homes. But they ended up in this one after a teammate bought the other home — they do say that this one is indeed the right one for them.

Björnstad, meanwhile, talks of possibly adding a ski simulator to their home and maybe a basketball court at some point.

“We’re a sports family,” she adds.

Nashville Calling

While Ekholm and Björnstad have found new favourite spots in Edmonton, like Braven, the J.W. Marriott steakhouse or other eateries like El Corazon and Happy & Olive, they also have favourite spots back in Nashville like The Twelve Thirty Club.

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Justin Timberlake’s The Twelve Thirty Club is best described as a progressive three-story experience that is headlined by food and music.

“It features an elevated honky tonk on the first level, followed by a dapper Supper Club on Level 2, which leads out to a lush and airy rooftop bar with the city’s best views of Lower Broadway,” said Heather Middleton, chief marketing officer, Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp.

Other spots the couple suggests are Bourbon Steak from celebrity chef Michael Mina, which specializes in high-quality cuts of American beef, Kobe beef, and wagyu and has been called Nashville’s best restaurant with a view; the Johnny Cash museum, which Middleton notes has the most comprehensive collection of Johnny Cash artifacts and memorabilia in the world, and they said to also check out Lower Broadway — an entertainment district renowned for live music, honky tonk and the beverage scene; those Broadway music spots play live music every day of the year from 10 a.m. to 3 a.m.

Meanwhile, the couple’s old neighbourhood of Green Hills houses one of Nashville’s most iconic attractions, The Bluebird Cafe. The 90-seat venue has hosted some of the most significant songwriters — Taylor Swift, Garth Brooks, Keith Urban, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and more — and when you see a show at the Bluebird Cafe, you are experiencing a “Listening Room,” where you’ll hear stories and performances directly from the songwriters as they share stories about their music and the inspiration behind the songs.

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Two Cities: A Shutdown Pair?

If you ask Ekholm and Björnstad if there is a winner between the two cities, they’re diplomatic. Homes here are more modern, they said, then what they saw in Nashville. But then Ekholm started his career in Nashville, so they emphasize that Nashville will always have a special place in their hearts.

But perhaps, Ekholm, said it best: “they’re so different. But if you ask somebody that’s from Spain I would probably believe that they would like to live in Nashville better. We’re from Sweden, and so for us, the climate up here is more appealing to us … so we would like to say Edmonton just because of the four seasons and the different activities you can do in the snow.”

And as for Ekholm and the Oilers this season, he has this message for the fans. “I hope we can repeat what we did last year and go one game further (and win the Stanley Cup)!” he said.

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