Bridgestone Arena ranked sixth in U.S. ticket sales in 2013, according to new data from Pollstar. This is the third time in the last four years that the venue has received the distinction of being one of the busiest in the United States.
It is also nominated for Arena of the Year for the seventh consecutive time at the Feb. 21 Pollstar Awards, which will be presented during the Pollstar Live conference in Nashville. David Kells, Bridgestone Arena VP of Booking, is nominated for Facility Executive of the Year for the second straight year.
“Thanks to the outstanding support of Bridgestone Arena patrons, staff, performers, promoters and the city of Nashville, the arena has become one of the premier stops on US tours,” said Kells. “We take pride in keeping this building at the forefront of the industry, and look forward to 2014 as we continue to build Bridgestone Arena’s reputation of truly being one of the best in the business.”
Bridgestone Arena sold 448,148 tickets during 2013, a year that was highlighted by the CMA Awards, We’re All for the Hall, and shows from Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift (three shows), Luke Bryan (two shows), One Direction, Beyonce, and Justin Timberlake, and the arena’s primary tenant, the Nashville Predators.
It will host the NCAA Women’s Final Four in 2014, as well as twelve upcoming consecutive SEC Basketball Championships, including men’s (2015-2017, 2019-2021, 2023-2025) and women’s (2018, 2022, 2026).
“Bridgestone has become an essential part of our city’s tourist and entertainment district, and a lot of credit for the energy we see around our downtown goes to the arena,” added Nashville Mayor Karl Dean.
Topping arena ticket sales in the United States for 2013 were:
1. Barclays Center (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
2. Staples Center (Los Angeles)
3. Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia)
4. Philips Arena (Atlanta)
5. Verizon Center (Washington, D.C.)
6. Bridgestone Arena (Nashville, Tenn.)
7. Madison Square Garden (New York)
8. Sprint Center (Kansas City, Mo.)
9. The Palace of Auburn Hills (Auburn Hills, Mich.)
10. American Airlines Arena (Miami)
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Sarah Skates has worked in the music business for more than a decade and is a longtime contributor to MusicRow.View Author Profile
