Bridgestone Arena facts for kids
The Bridgestone Arena is a super cool sports and entertainment building located in Nashville, Tennessee. It first opened its doors on December 18, 1996. Today, it's the proud home of the Nashville Predators, a professional ice hockey team that plays in the National Hockey League (NHL).
This arena is a busy place, hosting many different events throughout the year!
What's in a Name?
Over the years, this famous arena has had a few different names. When it first opened, it was known as the Nashville Arena. Later, it was called the Gaylord Entertainment Center, and then the Sommet Center.
Today, the arena is named after Bridgestone, a company that has the naming rights. This means they pay to have their name on the building.
Home to Sports Teams
Besides being the home of the Nashville Predators hockey team, the Bridgestone Arena has also hosted other sports teams.
From 1997 to 2001, it was home to the Nashville Kats, an Arena Football League team. The Kats later moved to Georgia. But don't worry, the team came back and played at the arena again from 2005 to 2007!
The arena is specially designed for sports. It can hold 19,395 fans for basketball games and 17,113 fans for exciting ice hockey matches. When it first opened in 1996, it could seat 17,298 people.
More Than Just Sports
The Bridgestone Arena isn't just for sports! It's also a popular spot for big entertainment events.
It has hosted major music awards shows like the CMA Awards and the CMT Music Awards. Many famous musicians have performed here, making it a key part of Nashville's music scene.
Images for kids
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Bridgestone Arena during a Predators game in 2017.
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The 2014 NCAA Women's Final Four was held here.
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The arena in 2006, when it was called Gaylord Entertainment Center.
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A view of the Bridgestone Arena.
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Learn More
In Spanish: Bridgestone Arena para niños
