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Bridgestone Arena is a multi-purpose venue in downtown Nashville


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Bridgestone Arena History

Bridgestone Arena is a multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue located in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, USA. The arena has a seating capacity of approximately 17,500 for concerts and 19,395 for hockey games. It is home to the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Bridgestone Arena was first proposed in the early 1990s as part of an effort to bring an NHL team to Nashville. Construction began in 1994, and the arena opened its doors on December 18, 1996, as the Nashville Arena. The first event held at the arena was a concert by the band KISS.

In 1999, the arena was renamed the Gaylord Entertainment Center after the hospitality company that had purchased the naming rights. In 2006, the arena was again renamed, this time to the Sommet Center after a local insurance company. However, the name was unpopular with many residents, and the arena was renamed Bridgestone Arena in 2010 after Bridgestone Americas, a subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, purchased the naming rights.

In addition to hosting Nashville Predators home games, Bridgestone Arena has hosted a variety of other events over the years, including concerts by major acts such as Taylor Swift, U2, and Garth Brooks, as well as events like the Country Music Association Awards, the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, and the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament.

Bridgestone Arena has been recognized as one of the top arenas in the United States, and has won numerous awards for its design, technology, and fan experience.

  • The arena was built at a cost of $144 million, and its construction was funded by the city of Nashville and the state of Tennessee.
  • The arena was designed by the architectural firm Populous, which has designed many other sports venues around the world.
  • In addition to hosting hockey games and concerts, Bridgestone Arena has also hosted other sporting events, such as basketball, arena football, and indoor soccer.
  • The arena has a unique, horseshoe-shaped seating bowl that allows for good sight lines and acoustics for concerts.
  • Bridgestone Arena is home to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which has a branch inside the arena.
  • The arena has a variety of food and beverage options, including several bars and restaurants, as well as traditional arena concessions.
  • The Nashville Predators have made the playoffs in many seasons since the arena opened, and in 2017, they made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals, though they ultimately lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
  • The arena has a unique feature called the "Band Stage," which is a small stage located in the upper deck of the arena that allows fans to watch the game or concert from a different perspective.
  • The arena has a number of environmentally friendly features, such as low-flow plumbing fixtures, energy-efficient lighting, and a green roof.
  • Bridgestone Arena has hosted many notable concerts over the years, including shows by Elton John, Beyonce, Paul McCartney, and the Rolling Stones.
  • The arena has also been used as a filming location for movies and TV shows, including the TV series "Nashville" and the movie "The Green Mile."
  • The arena has a number of luxury seating options, including suites, club seats, and loge boxes, which provide fans with a premium experience and amenities like private entrances, in-seat dining, and VIP parking.
  • Bridgestone Arena has been recognized as one of the busiest arenas in the United States, hosting more than 200 events each year.
  • In 2021, Bridgestone Arena was temporarily converted into a COVID-19 vaccination site, where thousands of residents of Nashville and the surrounding areas were vaccinated against the virus.

Overall, Bridgestone Arena has become a beloved landmark in Nashville, attracting visitors from around the world to enjoy sports, music, and entertainment in one of the most vibrant cities in the United States.

Downtown Nashville is the central business district and entertainment hub of Nashville, Tennessee, USA. It is a bustling area filled with restaurants, bars, shops, hotels, and cultural attractions. Some of the most notable features of downtown Nashville include:

  • Lower Broadway: This is the heart of the city's entertainment district, where you can find dozens of honky-tonk bars, live music venues, and restaurants. Lower Broadway is also home to many of the city's most famous landmarks, such as the Ryman Auditorium and the Johnny Cash Museum.
  • The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum: This museum, located on 5th Avenue South, is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history of country music. It features exhibits, artifacts, and interactive displays that highlight the achievements of some of the genre's biggest stars.
  • The Frist Art Museum: Housed in a historic art deco building on Broadway, the Frist Art Museum is one of the city's premier cultural institutions. It features a rotating collection of art exhibitions, as well as a variety of educational programs and events.
  • Bridgestone Arena: As mentioned earlier, Bridgestone Arena is a major sports and entertainment venue located in the heart of downtown Nashville.
  • The Riverfront: Nashville sits along the Cumberland River, and the riverfront area has been revitalized in recent years with parks, walkways, and outdoor concert venues. It offers stunning views of the city skyline and is a popular spot for jogging, biking, and kayaking.
  • The Tennessee State Capitol: Located on Capitol Hill, just a few blocks from downtown Nashville, the Tennessee State Capitol is a neoclassical-style building that houses the offices of the governor and the state legislature. It is open for tours and is a popular spot for taking photos.

Overall, downtown Nashville is a vibrant and lively area that attracts visitors from around the world with its unique blend of history, culture, and entertainment.

My Friend, you're in Tennessee

Feel a refreshing morning mist along a hidden trail in a mountain hollow. Follow the scent of hickory barbecue from an open grill or the sounds of children giggling as they chase fireflies on a summer night. Watch the glow of an amber sunset reflect from glassy skyscrapers onto vibrant city streets. My friend, you're in Tennessee.

The Volunteer State, which stretches from the Appalachian Mountains to the mighty Mississippi River, has four distinct seasons, three unique regions and a million vacation dreams. These grand regions of West, Middle and East are further divided into sub regions for easy vacation planning. Enjoy yourself.

Our state offers a wealth of must-see destinations, headlined by the two internationally known aquariums (in Chattanooga and Knoxville), Nashville's Grand Ole Opry and Elvis Presley's home at Graceland in Memphis. Mix that with a cruise down the Cumberland River aboard the General Jackson Showboat in Nashville, a get-together with giant panda bears at the Memphis Zoo, or a chat with a whittler at the Museum of Appalachia in Norris. Dash through the whitewater of the Ocoee River, speed down the water slides at Nashville Shores, or cheer and stomp from the front row at a Memphis Grizzlies' NBA game at the new FedExForum.

Speaking of sporting events, they're big here. The Bristol Motor Speedway draws more than 160,000 on NASCAR race day; the University of Tennessee fills Neyland Stadium (the third largest on-campus stadium in America) for every home football game. And let's not forget the NFL's Tennessee Titans and the NHL's Predators, both based in Nashville.

Our heritage comes alive at the reconstructed Fort Loudoun, where Cherokee Indians sought protection in the 1750s. Andrew Jackson's The Hermitage is the country's fourth most-visited President's home; other historic mansions reveal the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Bloody Civil War battles raged at Chickamauga, Franklin, Shiloh and Stones River; visitors' centers there lend insight into soldiers, strategies and outcomes. Struggles of the Civil Rights movement are recorded at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis with interactive displays and newsreels.

When it comes to dinner time, Tennesseans enjoy good times around the table, embracing places like the relaxed Big Ed's Pizza in Oak Ridge; Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House restaurant in Lynchburg; Nashville's vintage Loveless Café featuring real country fare; The Rendezvous in Memphis, known for its charcoal-broiled dry ribs; and Chattanooga's Nikki's Forties Restaurant, where the deep-fried onion rings are among "the best in the world."

If you want to party, saunter down to the Old City in Knoxville, the Riverfront in Chattanooga, Lower Broadway in Nashville or Beale Street in Memphis. It's all in a day's fun in Tennessee.