The Nashville Predators already have one of the most enjoyable in game experiences, and are seeking to make that experience even better with newly announced renovations.
The figure stated for the cost of these is $650 million, but realistically that is just a current starting point, and likely could end up somewhere closer to a billion dollars.
Now, while Bridgestone Arena is already pretty awesome, it does have one major flaw. Despite the ability to pack a rabid fanbase close to the ice, the Predators and Bridgestone Arena have one of the lowest max capcity thresholds at 17,159 people. That places them 28th in the league. So the plan to add at least 175,000 square feet to the general area. Some of the details on the official Predators site include 600 to 700 additional seats to Bridgestone Arena’s capacity, wider concourses, club spaces, gatherings areas and modern amenities.
Does that seem like a lot of space? Yes, it is, and when you think about it, that will make a serious impact downtown. Bridgestone Arena is situated in a spot where it has become one of the crown jewels of Broadway, but, it isn't really a part of the street at the moment. One of the main ideas of the renovation is to change that. This quote comes from New Channel 5 :
"Nashville Predators CEO Sean Henry shared with the Business Journal “The idea is to rip out all the walls and not let the patrons know...where the building starts, where Broadway ends and have them all flowing out of each other. What we’ve created is something pretty special, and every enhancement we’ve done to the building is with this in mind.”"Sean Henry Nashville Predators CEO
One of the key points to the plan is the covering over the main plaza, which arounds for year round and all weather events, leading to the main enterance, which is set to become more open air.
All of this does mean that the main entrace (pictured above) is planned to move to Rep. John Lewis Way, in the spot where the Nashville Predators Locker Room currently sits. There are also plans for hotels to be added to the area around or connected to the arena. There are also plans for a rooftop bar and being able to situate the entrance to be accessible from the pedestrian bridge.
Ideally this project is going to start construction in 2026, lightly enough as to not disrupt the seasons, but allowing them to work over the summers with a finishing date of the summer of 2029. Bridgestone Arena is also a very busy concert venue so that will have to be kept in mind as the plans evolve.
This might not be very influential to players now, but in the future the environment that this could create and the revenue generated could be something that helps entice players. There is something to be said for playing in front of a big vocal crowd, a happening downtown area, and having no state taxes. It won't be soon, but Nashville is becoming even more of a destination for fans and players.