About Bridgestone Arena
Bridgestone Arena (Formerly Sommet Center) is an award-winning sports and entertainment venue that is located in Nashville, TN. It is known for being the home to fast paced live hockey by way of Nashville Predators tickets, as well as for being a must-play concert venue. This incredibly busy venue has had over 13 million guests come through since it first opened in December of 1996.
Nashville is world-renowned for being one of the most music-oriented cities. With a long and fascinating history of music and culture, being Nashville's #1 music venue is no easy task! Thankfully the Bridgestone Arena has the goods to fill those big shoes. With artists like Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Justin Timberlake, Van Halen, and Bruce Springsteen playing this arena, it is no wonder that it has earned the distinction of being one of the busiest venues of its kind in all of North America.
Few other venues have earned as many distinguished awards. The Bridgestone Arena was nominated for Pollstar Magazine's Arena of the Year in 1997, 1998, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. It won the International Entertainment Buyer's Association's Venue of the Year in both 2008 and 2010. In 2009 and 2011, the Bridgestone Arena took home the Academy of Country Music's Venue of the Year award. And finally, it was voted Facilities Magazine's Prime Site in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. Clearly this unique venue is doing something right!
In 2007, the venue went through several million dollarsâ worth of renovations. It has 20,000 seats along with public areas and concession stands that were improved, and a brand new $3.6 million scoreboard was added. This incredible scoreboard is called the âMegatronâ by the arena and staff. Additionally, the south side of the upper concourse was redesigned as a âfan zoneâ. These upgrades have really elevated the experience for guests, adding a whole new level of modern luxury.
Getting There and Getting In
Parking & Directions
Bridgestone Arena is located in Nashville at 501 Broadway, at the corner of 5th and Broadway. The Bridgestone Arena official website provides detailed directions on how to get there from your location, depending on whether you are coming from I-40, I-65, or I-24. Always plan your route before the day of the event. You will also want to leave at least an hour earlier than you normally would to account for traffic and delays.
There are parking lots and garages near the venue. These spaces may fill up fast during major events, so you may want to consider alternative parking spaces as well. For example, there is a lot adjacent to the pedestrian bridge that ends one block away from the arena. Parking there is free, but you will either need to walk to the venue or take a shuttle that costs $3. There are also plenty of lots in the downtown area. You may find that it is cheaper and more convenient to park somewhere downtown and then take public transportation, a taxi, or a limousine.
