Bridgestone Arena Nominated For 2021 Pollstar Arena Of The Year

Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Predators

Bridgestone Arena has been nominated for Arena of the Year for 2021 by Pollstar Magazine. This is Bridgestone Arena’s 14th consecutive and 17th overall nomination for the award.

Pollstar‘s Arena of the Year award recognizes superior programming, effective promotion and marketing, quality production values and staff, an exemplary experience for fans and artists, and consistent box office success. Bridgestone Arena won the award in 2014 and 2017.

“We are extremely proud to have received our 14th consecutive Pollstar nomination for Arena of the Year, and we want to thank David Kells for his dedication to making Bridgestone Arena the best environment in the sports and entertainment industry for agents, managers, performers, promoters and fans,” says Arena President and CEO Sean Henry. “After a trying for a year and a half, we have been so honored to help bring live entertainment–one of the staples of what makes Smashville such a special place–back to our community. We want to thank our loyal fans for consistently displaying their passion and helping us earn the opportunity to be recognized for this prestigious award.”

Henry was also named to the VenuesNow All-Stars list for 2021, and Executive Vice President of Entertainment & Venues David Kells was nominated for Pollstar‘s Venue Executive of the Year.

“First and foremost, we want to thank our fans for helping us be nominated for this award,” says Kells. “This could not have happened without their unwavering support of all we do–their feedback and passion has made Bridgestone Arena a safe and unique venue to enjoy the best shows on tour. Additionally, we’d like to recognize the countless artists, managers, agents, promoters and crew members for their efforts to help bring live entertainment back to lower Broadway. To be included on the same list as so many other venues and industry executives is a true honor I am very thankful for.”

Bridgestone was nominated for Pollstar‘s Arena of the Decade in 2020 and ranked third in the world and the U.S. for ticket sales in the publication’s third quarter ticket sales report. Pollstar announced Bridgestone Arena’s ticket sales as 82,431, inclusive solely of show and concert tickets, and was ranked behind only Staples Center in Los Angeles and Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Steven Boero