Predators Seek More Income Through Non-Hockey Events

When the Nashville Predators revamped the CEO and COO positions last year to bring in Jeff Cogen and Sean Henry, they brought in two of the best in the league at putting butts in seats in their facilities.

The Predators looked at the situation with a two pronged attack by not only selling more hockey tickets, but by having more quality events at the Bridgestone Arena and using the building to a greater extent more on non hockey dates. With the new convention center opening in a couple of years, the non hockey use will become even more of a focus.

With the announcement last week of a few more additional seats and a Fan Zone in what used to be a fairly dead area of the arena, attempts are also being made for folks in attendance at events to have a more enjoyable time with more things to take in while they are there.

The latest release from the Predators highlights the rise in overall arena attendence putting theme at ninth in the mid-year Pollstar rankings but continued focus and upgrades should boost attendance even more.

Make the jump for the release from the Predators...

Bridgestone Arena Ranks 9th In U.S. Concert Attendance In Pollstar's 2011 Mid-Year Report
-Up from 23rd ranking in 2010 Mid-Year Ticket Sales report-

Nashville Tenn. (July 18, 2011) – Bridgestone Arena ranks ninth in the United States and 23rd in the world for concert attendance, according to international trade publication Pollstar’s Mid-Year Ticket Sales report. These numbers are up from the 2010 Mid-Year Pollstar numbers, which saw Bridgestone Arena rank 23rd in the U.S. and 48th in the word for concert attendance.

“In 2010, Bridgestone Arena achieved its most successful year to date,” Nashville Predators and Bridgestone Arena Chief Operating Officer/President Sean Henry said. “We couldn’t be more excited to build off that outstanding success in 2011. We fully expect to continue our presence in Pollstar’s Top 10, which allows us to move closer to our ultimate goal of becoming the Number One sports and entertainment venue in the world, with a Stanley Cup winning Nashville Predators team as its centerpiece.”

2011 Bridgestone Arena Mid-Year Highlights:

  · Host to the 2011 Stanley Cup Quarterfinals and Semifinals
  · Host to the 2011 CMT Music Awards
  · More than 52 events with top performers such as:
     o Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus – Jan. 20-23
     o Brad Paisley – Feb. 26
     o Rush – April 3
     o Sugarland – April 16
     o Lady Gaga – April 19
     o Bob Seger – April 21
     o Taylor Swift Speak Now Help Now Benefit – May 21
     o Jimmy Buffet – May 28
     o 2011 CMT Music Awards – June 8
     o Cirque du Soleil Alegria – June 15-19

Bridgestone Arena opened in December 1996 and has been the home of the National Hockey League’s Nashville Predators since 1998. The facility has hosted more than 13 million guests for such events as the NCAA Men’s Basketball Regional Tournament, SEC and OVC Men’s & Women’s Basketball Tournament, as well as concerts for entertainers such as Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney, Garth Brooks, Elton John, Billy Joel, the Rolling Stones, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban and Jimmy Buffett.

To receive regular updates on upcoming events at Bridgestone Arena, go to bridgestonearena.com. Visit nashvillepredators.com for the complete Predators game schedule.

More Later...

Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass