Tyre manufacturer Bridgestone Americas has extended its naming-rights agreement with the home arena of the Nashville Predators NHL ice hockey franchise.
Under the new five-year agreement, the venue will continue to be known as Bridgestone Arena until 2030. The company has sponsored the arena since 2010 and signed its most recent deal with the Predators in December 2017.
The new announcement coincided with the official unveiling of a FangVision, a new state-of-the-art scoreboard that will hang above the ice at Bridgestone Arena. The board includes four illuminated fangs on its corners and 4.2 million LED pixels, while it holds nearly 300 per cent more primary board size than the previous structure.
Gordon Knapp, chief executive and president of Bridgestone Americas, said: “Our partnership with Nashville Predators and our association with this world-class arena continue to be great sources of pride and positive exposure for the Bridgestone brand.
“Extending our relationship for the next 11 years represents the longest sports partnership commitment in our company’s history, which is a reflection of our belief in the Middle Tennessee community and the incredible vision of our hometown hockey franchise.”
Sean Henry, president and chief executive of the Predators, added: “Our year over year growth on virtually every front and our current upward trajectory we enjoy is directly linked to their renewed faith in what we can achieve together.
“It is no coincidence that our alignment with Bridgestone has driven us to become one of the busiest venues in North America centred around a perennial Stanley Cup contending Nashville Predators team. With downtown Nashville being each of our forever homes, it is natural for our partnership to continue that long as well.”
The deal comes after the Predators earlier this year sealed a new lease agreement to continue playing at Bridgestone Arena until 2049. The team claimed the agreement marks the best public-private facility partnership in the US, with the deal relieving taxpayers of financial responsibility for the venue.
As well as hosting Predators games, Bridgestone Arena stages music concerts and other events. Acts due to perform at the 20,000-seat arena in the coming months include The Black Keys, Elton John and Ariana Grande.
Image: Nashville Predators
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