The Nashville Predators presented their plans for $750 million in upgrades to Bridgestone Arena — an increase from their original $650 million figure presented in the spring — to the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce on Sept. 16.
Nashville Predators Chief Strategy Officer Kyle Clayton, speaking to the Chamber’s Economic Development Council at the arena, revealed new renderings of upcoming upgrades and details such as expanded concourses and the “largest rooftop bar in Nashville.”
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“We want the energy from Broadway to come inside and for the energy at our events to be outside,” Clayton said. “The building was designed to be introverted, to keep everything inside. We want to flip that.”
As previewed last spring, when Predators majority owner Bill Haslam detailed his plans to make a bid for a WNBA franchise, the team plans to invest in $750 million in renovations and upgrades to the Bridgestone Arena block, including 100,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space along the Broadway side.
The concrete block along Broadway that once housed the police department and Register of Deeds will become shops, bars, restaurants and open space, including a rooftop bar that overlooks lower Broadway.
“We want to be a good steward of this asset,” Clayton said. “Our goal is to create even more activity and more experiences for folks when they come downtown.”
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Predators’ $750 million upgrades to Bridgestone Arena details
The upgrades to Bridgestone Arena will expand the space along Fifth Avenue, Broadway and Demonbreun to create an open space entertainment complex.
Here’s what’s included in the plans, which are still under review and not yet finalized.
Expansion of the main concourse beyond the current Broadway side wall to take advantage of premium downtown real estate. Four floors of bars, restaurants and shopping will be housed in a new commercial space along Broadway.
The “radio tower” will be moved closer to the corner of Fifth and Broadway, creating more walking space on the plaza, but keeping one of Bridgestone’s iconic details.
Ticketed entrance on Broadway plaza will expand and have a separate entry for the commercial space.
Two towers for hotel tenants — one on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Demonbreun that would sit over Bridgestone’s rehearsal hall area and one on the corner of Sixth Avenue and Broadway. These plans are still in development and may not be completed by the 2030 deadline.
Event level expanded by 60,000 square feet, adding more space beyond the Lexus Lounge area, to include more team locker room and training areas.
Each concourse will be expanded, including the top most 300-level, which will have a new rooftop option.
A new Skydeck level that will include a new press box.
A rendering of the renovated exterior of Bridgestone Arena following an estimated $650 million expansion set to begin in 2027.
The team plans to expand the arena by about 175,000 square feet, construct two adjoining towers and add the “largest rooftop on Broadway.” Where the main entrance now stands, escalators and an open walkway will be built to separate new restaurants and shops from the ticketed event space.
The renovations will also add to Bridgestone’s capacity, with the goal to get to 18,000 seat capacity for Predators games. Current capacity is 17,159.
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Who will pay for $750 million in Bridgestone Arena upgrades? The Nashville Predators.
The money for upgrades is funded through Predators game ticket surcharges and sales tax generated at the arena. Any overages in the $750 million budget will be paid by team ownership, including former Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam.
A 30-year lease renewal between the Predators and Metro Sports Authority in 2019 eliminated a previous city-funded subsidy, in exchange for ticket surcharges to fund future renovations. Those surcharges began at $3 per ticket and have been increased by 5% annually, capped at $6 per ticket. The Predators also receive a portion of sales tax collected during events at the arena.
No public or city funds will be used to pay for these upgrades.
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When Bridgestone Arena’s upgrades will begin and be completed
Upgrades will begin in the summer of 2026, which will include the construction of escalators and excavation of the Broadway side of the building. Then, during the summers of 2027, 2028, and 2029, the arena will be shut down for two to three months at a time for the construction of added spaces, in-arena upgrades, and concourse and rehearsal hall renovations.
The goal is for core upgrades to be completed by 2030. The added towers may not be complete until after, depending on business and lease agreements with tenants. The $750 million figure released does not include costs of the added towers — that cost will eventually be split between the tenant and team ownership, the Predators said.
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Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Predators detail $750 million in Bridgestone Arena upgrades