Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Bridgestone is a multi-purpose arena home to the Nashville Predators of the NHL. With a capacity of 17,113, Bridgestone Arena hosts hockey and basketball games, as well as concerts. The arena also turns into an ice skating rink open to the public on certain periods of the year.

The History of Bridgestone Arena

The Bridgestone Arena opened on December 18, 1996, and its name has changed quite a few times over the years. At first, the arena was known as the Sommet Center, a name that quickly changed to the Nashville Arena. Finally, the city renamed it Bridgestone Arena, which is how the arena is known today.

Many events have taken place at the Bridgestone Arena, including the U.S. Figure Skating Championships back in 1997 and the Gymnastics National Championships held in 2004. The Bridgestone Arena also hosted the NCAA Basketball Tournaments on odd-numbered years

Aside from practices and games for the Nashville Predators hockey team, the arena is used by basketball teams, gymnastic events, concerts, and even religious gatherings.

The arena can hold up to 17,000+ people for hockey and 19,395 for basketball. As for concerts, the arena can adjust to accommodate 10,000, 18,500, or 20,000 people depending on whether the show is half-house, end-stage, or center stage. You may also find wrestling and boxing matches happening at Bridgestone, making it one versatile arena.

What’s so special about Bridgestone Arena?

Bridgestone has seen its fair share of celebrities come through its doors. The arena hosted the CMA Awards, the CMT annual Music Awards, and the 2017 Stanley Cup final. As there is more to Nashville than just country music, there is clearly more to Bridgestone than just hockey.