Bridgestone Arena

Bridgestone Arena (originally Nashville Arena, and formerly Gaylord Entertainment Center and Sommet Center) is a multi-purpose indoor arena in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Completed in 1996, it is the home of the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League.

Bridgestone Arena
Smashville
The Tire Barn
Bridgestone Arena in 2015
Bridgestone Arena is located in Nashville
Bridgestone Arena
Bridgestone Arena
Location in Nashville
Bridgestone Arena is located in Tennessee
Bridgestone Arena
Bridgestone Arena
Location in Tennessee
Bridgestone Arena is located in the United States
Bridgestone Arena
Bridgestone Arena
Location in the United States
Former namesNashville Arena (1996–99, 2007, 2009−10)
Gaylord Entertainment Center (1999–2007)
Sommet Center (2007–09)
Address501 Broadway
LocationNashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Coordinates36°9′33″N 86°46′43″W
OwnerSports Authority of Nashville
Davidson County
OperatorPowers Management Company
CapacitySports:

Concerts:

  • end-stage 18,500
  • half-house 10,000
  • city theater: 5,145
  • center-stage 20,000
Record attendance19,365 (April 15, 2023; Nate Bargatze)[1]
Field size750,000 sq ft (70,000 m2)
SurfaceMulti-surface
Construction
Broke groundJanuary 20, 1994[2]
OpenedDecember 18, 1996
Renovated2007, 2011, 2015
Construction cost$144 million
($284 million in 2022 dollars[3])
ArchitectHOK Sport
Hart Freeland Roberts, Inc.
Project managerBrookwood Group[4]
Structural engineerThornton Tomasetti
Services engineerSmith Seckman Reid Inc.
General contractorTurner/Perini[5]
Tenants
Nashville Predators (NHL) 1998–present
Nashville Kats (AFL) 1997–2001, 2005–2007

Ownership

Designed by HOK Sport in conjunction with the Nashville-based architecture/engineering firm Hart Freeland Roberts, INC., it was designed at an angle on the corner of Broadway and 5th Avenue in Nashville in physical homage to the historic Ryman Auditorium, the original home of the Grand Ole Opry.[6]

Bridgestone Arena is owned by the Sports Authority of Nashville and Davidson County and operated by Powers Management Company, a subsidiary of the Nashville Predators National Hockey League franchise, which has been its primary tenant since 1998.

Events

Bridgestone Arena, game 6 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals

.

2014 NCAA Women's Final Four (won by Connecticut Huskies)

The Predators hosted the NHL Entry Draft here in 2003; it was also the location for the 2016 NHL All-Star Game.

In 1997, it was the venue of the United States Figure Skating Championships, and in 2004 hosted the USA Gymnastics National Championships. It was the home of the Nashville Kats franchise of the Arena Football League from 1997 until 2001, and hosted the team's revival from 2005 to 2007, when the Kats franchise folded.

The arena has hosted college basketball events, including both men's (2001, 2006, 2010) and women's tournaments of the Southeastern Conference and the Ohio Valley Conference. Nashville will serve as a primary venue for the SEC men's basketball tournament nine times between 2015 and 2025 (2015–2017, 2019–2021, and 2023–2025) after the SEC signed a long-term agreement with the Nashville Sports Council in 2013.[7] It hosted the 2014 NCAA Women's Final Four, the 2018 SEC women's basketball tournament and will host again in 2022 and 2026.[7]

In odd-numbered years, the arena was regularly one of eight sites to host the first and second rounds of the men's NCAA Basketball Tournament for the first ten years of its existence, though it was taken out of the rotation for several years, partly due to the obsolete octagonal mid-1990s-style scoreboard that hung above the arena floor. It was replaced in the summer of 2007 by a new $5 million scoreboard and digital control room.[8] The NCAA Tournament returned to Nashville in 2012.

Since 2002, the arena has hosted a Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series event every year (except in 2005 and 2006) until 2010. The event moved to the Arena in 2002 after having previously occupied the Municipal Auditorium from 1994 to 2001; during the venue's first year hosting this event, the Built Ford Tough Series was known as the Bud Light Cup.

The venue has also hosted numerous concerts and religious gatherings. Beginning in 2006, the Country Music Association Awards have been held in the arena, after the awards show moved from the Grand Ole Opry House with a one-year stop in New York City at Madison Square Garden in 2005.

Due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout, the Predators did not host any games that season until January 19, 2013. Instead, the arena hosted a Southern Professional Hockey League preseason game between the only other Tennessee pro hockey franchise, the Knoxville Ice Bears, and their cross-border rivals Huntsville Havoc on October 20.

Seating capacity

Bridgestone Arena has a seating capacity of 17,159 for ice hockey, 19,395 for basketball, 10,000 for half-house concerts, 18,500 for end-stage concerts and 20,000 for center-stage concerts, depending on the configuration used. It has also hosted several professional wrestling events and a boxing card since its opening.

The seating configuration is notable for the oddly-shaped south end, which features two large round roof support columns, no mid-level seating, and only one level of suites, bringing the upper-level seats much closer to the floor.

The arena can be converted into the 5,145-seat Music City Theater, used for theater concerts and Broadway and family shows, by placing a stage at the north end of the arena floor and hanging a curtain behind the stage and another to conceal the upper deck. The arena also features 43,000 square feet (4,000 m2) of space in a trade show layout.

Nate Bargatze set the attendance record on April 15, 2023, with 19,365 fans in attendance.[1] The previous record (19,292) had been set six weeks earlier by Morgan Wallen. Kacey Musgraves set the record for the highest attendance for a female headliner with 18,373 fans during the Oh, What a World: Tour.

Arena construction

During construction of the arena there was a major time loss accident October 5, 1995 when a temporary column collapsed. Lead ironworker connector Daniel Lane Foreman suffered a shattered pelvis and was hospitalized for 10 days at Vanderbilt University Hospital. Ironworker Raymond Vance Foreman received minor injuries and was treated and released.

Notable events

Besides hosting the Nashville Predators, because of its location near Music Row and Nashville's role as the center of country music, Bridgestone Arena has seen many other famous performers and events:

Concerts

Date Artist Tour / Concert Name Opening Act
August 5, 2004Hilary DuffMost Wanted TourHaylie Duff
February 24, 2006 Kid Rock Live Trucker Tour Ty Stone
January 17, 2007Red Hot Chili PeppersStadium Arcadium World TourGnarls Barkley
November 23, 2007Miley CyrusBest of Both Worlds TourJonas Brothers
February 28, 2008 Linkin Park Minutes to Midnight World Tour
February 29, 2008 Kid Rock Rock N' Roll Revival Tour Rev Run
July 31, 2009 Green Day 21st Century Breakdown Kaiser Chiefs
September 12, 2009Taylor SwiftFearless TourGloriana
Kellie Pickler
October 28, 2009 Kiss Alive 35 World Tour Buckcherry
November 25, 2009Miley CyrusWonder World TourMetro Station
April 21, 2010Billy JoelThe Circle TourDashboard Confessional
August 11, 2010Justin BieberMy World Tour
December 5, 2010Michael BubléCrazy Love TourNaturally 7
February 18, 2011 Kid Rock Born Free Tour Jamey Johnson, Ty Stone, Sheryl Crow
April 3, 2011RushTime Machine Tour
August 17, 2011Maroon 5 & Train2011 Summer Tour
June 21, 2011New Kids on the Block & Backstreet BoysNKOTBSB TourJordin Sparks
Ashlyne Huff
July 3, 2011Mötley Crüe, Poison, & New York DollsGlam-A-Geddon
July 18, 2011Britney SpearsFemme Fatale TourNicki Minaj
Jessie and the Toy Boys
NERVO
August 19, 2011Katy PerryCalifornia Dreams TourJanelle Monáe
DJ Skeet Skeet
September 16, 2011Taylor SwiftSpeak Now World TourNeedtobreathe
Charlie Worsham
September 17, 2011
February 17, 2012DrakeClub Paradise TourKendrick Lamar
A$AP Rocky
February 24, 2012JourneyEclipse Tour
March 7, 2012Big Time RushBetter with U Tour
April 27, 2012Van HalenA Different Kind of Truth Tour
September 23, 2012Carrie UnderwoodBlown Away TourHunter Hayes
December 13, 2012AerosmithGlobal Warming Tour
January 18, 2013Justin BieberBelieve TourCarly Rae Jepsen
Cody Simpson
February 15, 2013 Kid Rock Rebel Soul Tour Buckcherry
March 2, 2013P!nkThe Truth About Love TourThe Hives
March 6, 2013Bon JoviBecause We Can
March 24, 2013Maroon 5Overexposed Tour
April 27, 2013Jimmy Buffett & Coral Reefer BandSongs from St. Somewhere Tour
June 18, 2013New Kids on the Block, 98 Degrees & Boyz II MenThe Package Tour
June 19, 2013One DirectionTake Me Home Tour5 Seconds of Summer
July 13, 2013BeyoncéThe Mrs. Carter Show World TourLuke James
September 6, 2013MuseThe 2nd Law World Tour
September 19, 2013Taylor SwiftThe Red TourEd Sheeran
Casey James
September 20, 2013
September 21, 2013
October 16, 2013EaglesHistory of the Eagles – Live in Concert
October 23, 2013Michael BubléTo Be Loved TourNaturally 7
October 25, 2013Selena GomezStars Dance TourEmblem3
Christina Grimmie
November 15, 2013Justin TimberlakeThe 20/20 Experience World TourThe Weeknd
November 26, 2013ParamoreThe Self-Titled TourHellogoodbye
Metric
November 27, 2013Kanye WestThe Yeezus TourKendrick Lamar
February 1, 2014Keith UrbanLight the Fuse Tour
February 7, 2014Kings of LeonMechanical Bull Tour
February 22, 2014Brad PaisleyBeat This Summer Tour
March 14, 2014Billy JoelBilly Joel in Concert
March 29, 2014Demi LovatoThe Neon Lights TourFifth Harmony
Cher Lloyd
Collins Key
April 17, 2014Bruce Springsteen & the E Street BandHigh Hopes Tour
June 27, 2014Katy PerryPrismatic World TourCapital Cities
Ferras
August 7, 2014Miley CyrusBangerz TourLily Allen
October 26, 2014Paul McCartneyOut There
December 19, 2014Justin TimberlakeThe 20/20 Experience World TourDJ Freestyle Steve
January 17, 2015Linkin ParkThe Hunting Party Tour
February 21, 2015Jason AldeanBurn It Down Tour
February 27, 2015Maroon 5Maroon V TourMagic!
Rozzi Crane
March 26, 2015Kenny ChesneyThe Big Revival TourJake Owen
Chase Rice
March 27, 2015
May 1, 2015Zac Brown BandJekyll and Hyde Tour
May 11, 2015The WhoThe Who Hits 50!
May 27, 2015New Kids on the BlockThe Main Event
July 8, 2015Imagine DragonsSmoke + Mirrors Tour
July 12, 2015Fall Out Boy & Wiz KhalifaThe Boys of Zummer
July 31, 2015Shania TwainRock This Country Tour
September 5, 2015Kelly ClarksonPiece by Piece Tour
September 11, 2015Lady AntebellumWheels Up TourHunter Hayes
Sam Hunt
September 13, 2015Ed Sheeranx Tour
September 22, 2015Ariana GrandeThe Honeymoon TourPrince Royce
Who Is Fancy
September 25, 2015Taylor SwiftThe 1989 World TourVance Joy
Haim
September 26, 2015
January 18, 2016MadonnaRebel Heart TourMary Mac
March 18, 2016RihannaAnti World TourTravis Scott
June 21, 2016Selena GomezRevival TourDNCE
Bahari
June 27, 2016Justin BieberPurpose World TourPost Malone
Moxie Raia
July 23, 20165 Seconds of SummerSounds Live Feels Live World TourOne Ok Rock
Hey Violet
August 14, 2016Drake & FutureSummer Sixteen TourRoy Woods
Dvsn
August 17, 2016Dixie ChicksDCX MMXVI World Tour
September 7, 2016Demi Lovato & Nick JonasFuture Now TourMike Posner
Chord Overstreet
September 22, 2016Carrie UnderwoodStoryteller Tour: Stories in the RoundEaston Corbin
The Swon Brothers
September 24, 2016Kanye WestSaint Pablo Tour
October 13, 2016Florida Georgia LineDig Your Roots TourCole Swindell
The Cadillac Three
Kane Brown
Chris Lane
October 15, 2016AdeleAdele Live 2016N/A
October 16, 2016
November 7, 2016Stevie Nicks24 Karat Gold TourThe Pretenders
February 14, 2017Ariana GrandeDangerous Woman TourVictoria Monét
Little Mix
February 18, 2017Bon JoviThis House Is Not for Sale Tour
April 19, 2017Neil Diamond50 Year Anniversary World Tour (Neil Diamond)
May 17, 2017New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, & Paula AbdulTotal Package Tour
May 26, 2017Eric ChurchHoldin' My Own Tour
May 27, 2017
July 31, 2017Shawn MendesIlluminate World TourCharlie Puth
August 4, 2017Tim McGraw & Faith HillSoul2Soul: The World Tour
August 5, 2017
August 30, 2017Kendrick LamarThe Damn TourYG
DRAM
September 9, 2017Lady AntebellumYou Look Good World TourKelsea Ballerini
Brett Young
Lindsay Ell
October 6, 2017Ed Sheeran÷ TourJames Blunt
October 7, 2017
October 18, 2017Katy PerryWitness: The TourNoah Cyrus
October 29, 2017The WeekndStarboy: Legend of the Fall TourGucci Mane
Nav
November 13, 2017Guns N' RosesNot in This Lifetime... Tour
November 15, 2017Jay-Z4:44 TourVic Mensa
December 7, 2017Janet JacksonState of the World Tour
January 19, 2018 Kid Rock American Rock n Roll Tour Sweet Tea Trio, A Thousand Horses
February 6, 2018Lana Del ReyLA to the Moon TourKali Uchis
March 28, 2018Demi LovatoTell Me You Love Me World TourDJ Khaled
Kehlani
April 15, 2018LordeMelodrama World TourRun the Jewels
Mitski
May 4, 2018Foo FightersConcrete and Gold TourThe Struts
May 9, 2018Justin TimberlakeThe Man of the Woods TourThe Shadowboxers
May 26, 2018U2Experience + Innocence Tour
June 12, 2018Harry StylesHarry Styles: Live on TourKacey Musgraves
July 7, 2018Sam SmithThe Thrill of It All Tour
July 10, 2018Imagine DragonsEvolve World Tour
July 13, 2018Kesha & MacklemoreThe Adventures of Kesha and Macklemore
July 21, 2018Shania TwainNow Tour
September 11, 2018Fall Out BoyMania TourMachine Gun Kelly
Gym Class Heroes
September 17, 2018J. ColeKOD TourYoung Thug
Jaden Smith
EarthGang
September 18, 2018Drake & MigosAubrey & the Three Migos TourRoy Woods
September 23, 2018Maroon 5Red Pill Blues TourJulia Michaels
October 2, 2018Florence and the MachineHigh as Hope TourBillie Eilish
October 7, 2018Bruno Mars24K Magic World TourElla Mai
DJ Rashida
October 8, 2018
October 16, 2018Twenty One PilotsThe Bandito TourAwolnation
Max Frost
October 24, 2018Elton JohnFarewell Yellow Brick Road
October 26, 2018Lynyrd SkynyrdThe Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour
December 2, 2018Childish GambinoThis Is America TourVince Staples
January 24, 2019MetallicaWorldWired TourJim Breuer
January 25, 2019Panic! at the DiscoPray for the Wicked TourTwo Feet
Betty Who
February 27, 2019Fleetwood MacAn Evening with Fleetwood Mac
March 10, 2019P!nkBeautiful Trauma World TourJulia Michaels
KidCutUp
March 20, 2019Travis ScottAstroworld – Wish You Were Here Tour
March 22, 2019Mumford & SonsDelta Tour
March 28, 2019Zac Brown BandDown the Rabbit Hole Live
March 29, 2019Kelly ClarksonMeaning of Life TourKelsea Ballerini
Brynn Cartelli
April 9, 2019KissEnd of the Road World Tour
May 16, 2019The WhoMoving On! Tour
June 7, 2019Ariana GrandeSweetener World TourNormani
Social House
June 20, 2019PentatonixPentatonix: The World Tour Rachel Platten
Citizen Queen
June 21, 2019JoJo SiwaD.R.E.A.M. The Tour
July 19, 2019Michael BubléAn Evening with Michael Bublé
August 2, 2019Shawn MendesShawn Mendes: The TourAlessia Cara
August 15, 2019Queen & Adam LambertThe Rhapsody Tour
August 19, 2019Iron MaidenLegacy of the Beast World Tour
August 26, 2019Backstreet BoysDNA World Tour
September 10, 2019Jonas BrothersHappiness Begins TourBebe Rexha
Jordan McGraw
September 24, 2019JoJo SiwaD.R.E.A.M. The Tour
September 27, 2019Carrie UnderwoodCry Pretty Tour 360Maddie & Tae
Runaway June
October 13, 2019Thomas RhettVery Hot Summer TourDustin Lynch
Russell Dickerson
Rhett Akins
Little Big Town
HARDY
Tyler Hubbard
October 20, 2019The ChainsmokersWorld War Joy Tour
October 25, 2019Kacey MusgravesOh, What a World: Tour IIMaggie Rogers
Yola
December 5, 2019Ariana GrandeSweetener World TourSocial House
January 13, 2020Celine DionCourage World Tour
February 19, 2020The LumineersIII: The World Tour
March 4, 2020Post MaloneRunaway TourSwae Lee
Tyla Yaweh
March 6, 2020Dan + ShayThe (Arena) TourThe Band Camino
Ingrid Andress
March 7, 2020
September 29, 2021Harry StylesLove On TourJenny Lewis
October 1, 2021
October 7, 2021PitbullI Feel Good TourIggy Azalea
October 8, 2021Alan Jackson25th Anniversary Keepin' It Country TourJeff Foxworthy
Jon Pardi
February 11, 2022Kacey Musgraves Star-crossed: unveiledKing Princess
MUNA
February 14, 2022Dua LipaFuture Nostalgia TourCaroline Polachek
Lolo Zouaï
March 9, 2022Billie EilishHappier Than Ever, The World TourDuckwrth
March 16, 2022Morgan WallenThe Dangerous TourHARDY
Larry Fleet
March 17, 2022
March 18, 2022
April 13, 2022John MayerSob Rock TourYebba
April 28, 2022EaglesHotel California 2020 Tour
May 18, 2022Justin BieberJustice World TourJaden Smith
Eddie Benjamin
TEO
May 21, 2022 Kid Rock Bad Reputation Tour Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening
July 5, 2022Rod StewartRod Stewart The HitsCheap Trick
July 31, 2022Kendrick LamarThe Big Steppers TourBaby Keem
Tanna Leone
August 16, 2022Michael BubléHigher Tour
August 23, 2022My Chemical RomanceMy Chemical Romance Reunion Tour
August 27, 2022Roger WatersThis Is Not a Drill
September 1, 2022The LumineersBrightside World TourJames Bay
September 7, 2022Twenty One PilotsThe Icy Tour
September 8, 2022Backstreet BoysDNA World Tour
September 17, 2022The KillersImploding the Mirage TourJohnny Marr
September 20, 2022SlipknotKnotfest Roadshow TourIce Nine Kills
Crown the Empire
October 7, 2022Keith UrbanThe Speed of Now World TourIngrid Andress
October 8, 2022Panic! at the DiscoViva Las Vengeance TourMARINA
Jake Wesley Rogers
October 9, 2022PitbullCan't Stop Us Now TourSean Paul
October 10, 2022The Smashing PumpkinsSpirits on Fire TourJane's Addiction
Poppy
October 14, 2022Jason AldeanRock N' Roll Cowboy TourGabby Barrett
John Morgan
October 16, 2022Post MaloneTwelve Carat TourRoddy Ricch
October 21, 2022Reba McEntireReba: Live in ConcertTerri Clark
October 23, 2022LizzoThe Special TourLatto
October 26, 2022Mary J. BligeGood Morning Gorgeous TourQueen Naija
Ella Mai
December 2, 2022Maren MorrisHumble Quest TourBrittney Spencer
Ruston Kelly
December 9, 2022Jelly RollOne Night Only at Bridgestone Arena
December 14, 2022 Trans-Siberian Orchestra 2022 Winter Tour
February 17, 2023 Adam Sandler TBA
April 15, 2023 Nate Bargatze The Be Funny Tour
Billed as "From Old Hickory To Broadway"
Brian Bates
Aaron Weber
Dusty Slay
Stephen Bargatze
February 19, 2023 TobyMac Hits Deep Tour 2023 Crowder Cochren & Co

Tasha Layton Jon Reddick Terrian

March 1, 2023 Carrie Underwood Denim & Rhinestones Tour[10] Jimmie Allen
July 1, 2023 Kid Rock Bad Reputation Tour Travis Tritt
July 8, 2023
July 27, 2023 The Chicks The Chicks Tour
October 1, 2023 Drake & 21 Savage It's All a Blur Tour
October 2, 2023
October 9, 2023 Jonas Brothers Five Albums. One Night. The World Tour Lawrence
October 20, 2023
October 19, 2023 Depeche Mode Memento Mori World Tour DIIV
December 4, 2023 Travis Scott Circus Maximus Tour
January 10, 2024 Aerosmith Peace Out: The Farewell Tour The Black Crowes

Awards and nominations

The Bridgestone Arena was nominated for the 2007 Pollstar Concert Industry Venue of the Year Award. This is the fourth time the venue has been nominated. The first was in 1998 as the Nashville Arena, and then in 1999 and 2000 as the Gaylord Entertainment Center.[11] In 2017 it was named loudest arena in sports.

Naming rights

As Gaylord Entertainment Center in 2006

When completed in 1996, the venue was known as Nashville Arena. In 1999, the arena was renamed Gaylord Entertainment Center after a 20-year, $80 million naming rights contract was signed between the Predators and Nashville-based Gaylord Entertainment Company, which at the time was a minority owner of the team.[12][13]

In February 2005, it was announced that the Predators and Gaylord (which had earlier sold its stake in the team) had reached an agreement terminating any further involvement between them, and that the Gaylord name would remain on the building only until a new purchaser could be found for the naming rights. As a result, many in the Nashville media quickly reverted to calling the facility by its original name. With the beginning of the 2006 season, the Predators began referring to the arena by its original name as well. In doing so, the team replaced the "Gaylord Entertainment Center" wordmark on the center ice circle with the original "Nashville Predators" wordmark from the inaugural season. The "Gaylord Entertainment Center" name, however, was still displayed on the building's exterior signage at that point.

The facility was officially renamed Nashville Arena again, and all Gaylord signage was removed from the building's exterior on March 16, 2007.[14]

On May 18, 2007, Sommet Group, a Franklin-based collection of companies whose services included human resources administration, payroll processing, software development, computer repair, insurance, and risk management bought the naming rights to the arena, and it became known as Sommet Center. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.[13][15] The company had previously been the corporate title sponsor for the Predators during the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The agreement had lasted little more than two years when the Predators sued the Sommet Group on November 25, 2009, for breach of contract, alleging the latter had failed to make numerous payments under the naming rights agreement. As part of the suit, the Predators stated intentions to seek a new title sponsor for the arena.[16] Unlike the Gaylord parting-of-ways, Sommet Group's name was stripped from all signage inside and outside the arena as soon as the team was legally allowed to do so. The arena reverted to the Nashville Arena name after a Nashville Sports Authority meeting approving the change on December 3, 2009.[17] On July 6, 2010, Sommet Group's headquarters were raided by the FBI and IRS due to suspicion of fraudulent activities, and the company subsequently filed for bankruptcy and was liquidated.[18][19] Sommet's founder, Brian Whitfield, was eventually convicted of fraud, including using some of the fraudulent funds to secure the arena naming rights.[20]

Bridgestone Arena

The building briefly resumed using the Nashville Arena moniker until February 23, 2010, when it was announced that the Predators had signed a naming rights deal with Nashville-based Bridgestone Americas, Inc., the North American subsidiary of Japanese tire manufacturer Bridgestone. The arena became known as Bridgestone Arena.[21]

Renovations

In the summer of 2007 a number of renovations were made to what was then called the Sommet Center at a cost of several million dollars.[22] Renovations included changes to concession stands and public areas, as well as major changes to infrastructure. The most obvious change was the August 2007 replacement of the original center-hanging scoreboard (at a cost of $3.6 million[22]) with a new scoreboard made by ANC Sports.[23] The original analog scoreboard had become outdated and was no longer supported by the original manufacturer, making parts difficult to come by.[24] The new scoreboard is referred to as the "megatron" by arena and Predators staff. In addition, the TV–media control room was renovated at a cost of $2.6 million.[22]

During the summer of 2011, a new NHL-mandated ice and dasherboard system was constructed and installed in the arena. In addition, the south side of the upper concourse was redesigned as a "fan zone". The wall separating the arena and that part of the upper concourse was removed.

In the summer of 2015, the Predators began replacing all of the arena's seating. This project was completed in Summer of 2016.[25]

In the summer of 2019, the scoreboard above center ice was replaced with a new model known as "FangVision" which measures 12 feet (3.7 m) high and 34 feet (10 m) wide, along with the replacement of urinals in the men's toilets with waterless versions.[26]

Flood damage

Twice in the building's history, event level space (located below street level) has sustained significant flood damage.

In early May 2010, downtown Nashville was heavily impacted by a major flooding event. Located 0.3 miles away and uphill from the bank of the Cumberland River, Bridgestone Arena escaped heavy damage, but drainage system backups caused several inches of standing flood water to seep into the building. The Predators had been eliminated from the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs the week prior, and the arena's schedule was mostly clear for the remainder of May as a result. No events were affected by cleanup and repairs.[27]

On November 25, 2022, a water main beneath Demonbreun Street ruptured, spilling thousands of gallons of water into the arena. Two Predators games were postponed as a result, and a college hockey game planned for Bridgestone Arena was moved to another facility in Nashville.[28]

References

  1. Baird, Brittney (April 17, 2023). "Nate Bargatze breaks attendance record at Bridgestone Arena". WKRN. Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  2. "Around the South Region in Brief". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. January 21, 1994. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  3. 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  4. "Clients: Overview". Brookwood Group. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
  5. "Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, National Harbor – Turner Construction Company". Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  6. "Arena History". Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  7. "SEC picks Nashville as primary tourney site". 15 October 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  8. Cass, Michael (January 12, 2007). "Predators and Metro Have Unresolved Issue". The Tennessean. Nashville. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
  9. "Predators to host 2016 NHL All-Star festivities". nhl.com. New York City: NHL Enterprises, L.P. November 19, 2015. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  10. "Carrie Underwood: The Denim & Rhinestones Tour".
  11. "Sommet Center Nominated As Venue of Year". Nashville Business Journal. December 3, 2007. Retrieved December 5, 2007.
  12. "Predation Facts, information, pictures – Encyclopedia.com articles about Predation". Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  13. Mullen, Bryan (May 18, 2007). "Predators Say New Naming-Rights Deal A Sign They Are Staying". The Tennessean. Nashville. Retrieved May 19, 2007.
  14. Mullen, Bryan (March 17, 2007). "New Arena Name Could Help Preds". The Tennessean. Nashville. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
  15. Brumley, Doug (May 18, 2007). "Arena Now Named the Sommet Center". Nashville Predators. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
  16. Gee, Brandon (November 23, 2009). "Predators Sue Sommet Group, Want to Rename Arena (Again)". Nashville Business Journal. Retrieved November 25, 2009.
  17. Castorena, Shauna (8 Dec 2009). "Sommet Center is now Nashville Arena". CountryMusicNewsBlog.com. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  18. Ferguson, Nicole; White, Eric (July 6, 2010). "FBI Raids Sommet Group In Cool Springs". NewsChannel 5. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
  19. Reisinger, Brian (August 23, 2010). "Judge Grants Ch. 7 Petition Against Sommet". Nashville Business Journal. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
  20. Lind, J.R. (November 10, 2014). "Sommet founder convicted for $20m fraud". NashvillePost.com. Archived from the original on June 20, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  21. "Predators' Home Could Be Bridgestone Arena Next Week". The Tennessean. Nashville. February 23, 2010. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
  22. "Sports Authority Pleads for GEC Funds". The City Paper. Nashville. June 22, 2006. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
  23. Nashville Predators – Features: New scoreboard reaches Sommet Center floor – August 16, 2007 Archived June 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  24. Nashville Predators – Features: New video features on Preds TV – October 26, 2007 Archived June 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  25. Steimer, Jacob. "Predators unveil ambitious expansion ideas for Bridgestone Arena (with slideshow)". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  26. Organ, Mike (18 September 2019). "Predators' Bridgestone Arena renovations include 300% bigger scoreboard, better concessions". The Tennessean. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  27. Reichard, Kevin (4 May 2010). "Bridgestone Arena hit by Nashville flooding". Arena Digest. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  28. Baird, Brittney; Guerry, Colleen (25 Nov 2022). "Water main break floods Bridgestone Arena; two Preds games postponed, college hockey classic moved". WKRN.com. WKRN. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
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