Bridgestone Arena – Overview

A city that receives 13 million tourists annually, Nashville is well-known for being the Country Music Capital of the World. Given its modern style and central location in this thrilling city, it’s not surprising that Bridgestone Arena has risen among the ranks of arenas throughout the United States. Opened in 1996, this arena, home to the Nashville Predators, is an excellent venue to visit on your trip.

In this arena, ranked sixth for best venue in the U.S. and known to host sold-out shows, you can expect to have a terrific time. There is plenty to see and do both in the arena and the surrounding downtown area. After some time exploring, you’ll quickly see why Bridgestone Arena is one of the busiest venues out there.

 

Overview

  • 750,000 square feet of space: Bridgestone Arena spans the corner of Broadway and 5th Avenue, centrally located in the Downtown neighborhood of Nashville. Its impressive size allows it to host more than twelve million guests.
  • Fluctuating seating capacity based on events: This oddly shaped venue can be configured for various events taking place, giving it an ever-changing seating capacity. The capacity for different events is as follows: roughly 17,000 for ice hockey, about 19,000 for basketball, 10,000 for half-house concerts, 18,500 for end-stage concerts, 20,000 for center-stage concerts, and slightly above 5,000 for Music City Theater shows and family shows.
  • Meeting rooms: There are varying sizes for meeting rooms as well. The biggest meeting room is at 6,000 square feet. Private meeting rooms can be up to 3,000 square feet. These rooms can also be converted into two 1,500-square-foot rooms or four 750-square-foot rooms. This allows event planners to adjust the rooms to their desired preference for the best experience possible.
  • 13,000 square feet Rehearsal Hall: The Rehearsal Hall is multi-purpose. It can be used for video shoots, pay-per-view concerts, rehearsals, or sports championships. Additionally, it can function as a fine dining area for up to 750 people.
  • ADA and Sensory Inclusive Certified: In addition to following ADA standards, Bridgestone Arena is now certified Sensory Inclusive. If you approach an AT&T Fan Info Center, you can receive a free bag with noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools, verbal cue cards, and weighted lap pads.
  • Visitor Center, Music City Shop, Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, and Team Store: Within Bridgestone Arena, you will find a visitor center where you can pick up useful information about the arena and surrounding area. For music lovers, you can visit the Music City Shop for arts memorabilia. Perhaps you’re looking to show off some Preds Pride. Well, you can stop by the Predator’s Team Store and get some gear. Then make your way to the Hall of Fame to see the great athletes of Tennessee.

 

Tips

  • Groups receive great benefits. If you’re going in a group of 15 or more, you are eligible for discounts when booking for events. There are even options for themed nights and Zamboni rides. You’ll want to book ahead though by contacting the Group Sales team.
  • There is free parking available close the Bridgestone Arena. If you are going to be using a car to get around Nashville, there is free parking at the Nissan Stadium, typically in Lot D. Once you park, you can either walk to Bridgestone Arena, which will take 10 to 15 minutes, or take a shuttle through BEEP, or Best Ever Event Parking, which costs $3 round trip per person but takes only four minutes. The parking lot and shuttle service is available two hours before events and open until midnight with shuttles arriving roughly every 10 minutes.
  • Paid parking can be booked in advance. If you would prefer to shell out a little more cash and guarantee a parking spot, there are a few areas that will allow you to pay for a spot in advance. These parking structures include Pinnacle at Symphony Place Garage, First Baptist Church of Nashville Parking, and 5th Avenue of the Arts Garage. All are within walking distance of Bridgestone Arena.
  • Use buses rather than taxis when possible. Going to and from downtown to the Nashville International Airport with a taxi is a flat rate of $25. However, a bus that will drop you off at 4th Avenue and Charlotte, which is only a few minutes from Bridgestone Arena, only costs $1.70.
  • Don’t pass up the free bus transportation. If you really want to see downtown Nashville and give your feet a rest, take advantage of the Music City Circuit Bus. The Blue and Green Circuits will take you around downtown for free, stopping at popular sights and attractions.
  • No bag, no problem. It’s not that Bridgestone doesn’t allow you to bring bags, but bags cannot exceed 12” by 6” by 12”. This means no oversized purses, backpacks, totes, luggage, or duffle bags. You are allowed to bring drawstring bags and clutch purses, but be aware that bags can be searched.
  • Pictures are allowed, but no video or audio recording is permitted. You’ll be able to capture some cool pictures, but don’t plan on capturing videos with a GoPro or taking out a selfie stick because recording is not allowed.

 

Trivia

  • As previously mentioned, Bridgestone Arena is the home of the Nashville Predators. The Predators have been the primary tenant of the Bridgestone Arena since 1998. It hosted the NHL Entry Draft in 2003 and the NHL All-Star Game in 2016. This NHL team takes care of its home, too, replacing all of the seats in 2016. During the NHL Lockout in 2012, the Predators could not play until the following year, so Bridgestone Arena hosted the Tennessee pro hockey franchise, the Knoxville Ice Bears.
  • Bridgestone has hosted and will continue to host basketball tournaments. The arena has hosted both men’s and women’s tournaments, including the Southeastern Conference and Ohio Valley Conference. In the future, it will also be the venue for the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament and NCAA Women’s Final Four.
  • Since 1998, this venue has been continuously nominated for Venue of the Year. From its sporting events and concerts to religious gatherings, this venue tends to be one that catches Pollstar’s attention. Bridgestone Arena has been nominated for this award throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s and as recently as 2018.
  • In 2017, Bridgestone Arena was awarded Large Capacity Venue of the Year. This award was given by the Academy of Country Music, which handed out various awards in June 2017. It marked a great year for the venue, filled with a busy NHL season and plenty of sold-out events.