Bridgestone Arena Countdown to 20 Years: 2008

Known as Nashville Arena upon its inception, Bridgestone Arena's 1993 mission statement was "to provide a state-of-the-art facility that can maximize utilization by hosting a full spectrum of events appealing to all constituencies in the Nashville area. The arena should help stimulate growth and enhance development in downtown Nashville, provide an attractive venue for entertainment, sports and learning, instill a renewed sense of pride in the city, and serve as a landmark for the image and reputation of Nashville as a premier place to live, visit, work and enjoy."
Twenty years later, the building has helped stimulate growth more than those who developed the arena could have ever imagined. Not only is Bridgestone Arena one of the top-five venues in the nation for entertainment, it's home to one of the NHL's top Stanley Cup contenders.
The building will celebrate its 20th Anniversary this year during a matchup against the New York Rangers on Saturday, December 17, taking place two decades after its opening event, Amy Grant's memorable concerts on December 16 and 17, 1996. Since that first iconic concert run all the way through today, more than 20 million fans have visited Bridgestone Arena to watch history unfold and to create lasting memories.

Leading up to the 20th anniversary celebration, NashvillePredators.com will take a look back at the greatest moments in Arena history, year by year, continuing today with the year 2008.

With six Grammys and six No. 1 albums, The Eagles have certainly made their mark on the music industry since their inception in 1971. In September of 2008, they also made their mark on Nashville by performing timeless classics for rock fans at Bridgestone Arena.
Carrie Underwood's Carnival Ride Tour brought out more than 1.2 million fans across 98 different shows, but it may be safe to say, for Carrie at least, that this was one of her most memorable tours for reasons outside of just the music. The same year, Carrie met future-husband and Predators Captain Mike Fisher.

Additional acts such as Michael Bublé and Robert Plant with Allison Krauss wowed fans and brought great music to the stage.
Predators Head Coach Barry Trotz became the 10th coach in NHL history to coach 750 games with one team.
Remember When: 2008
Billboard Hot 100 Top Song: "Low" -Flo Rida feat. T-Pain
Top Grossing Movie: The Dark Knight
Top Rated TV Show: American Idol