Bridgestone Extends Naming Rights Agreement with Preds to 2025

Nashville, Tenn. (Dec. 13, 2017) ― In conjunction with the official grand opening of its Americas headquarters, Bridgestone Americas, Inc. and the Nashville Predators announced Wednesday an additional five-year extension of the naming rights agreement for Bridgestone Arena, home of the Nashville Predators. First signed in March of 2010, the extended terms will ensure Nashville's premier downtown arena continues to bear the Bridgestone brand through 2025.
"Bridgestone is a proud supporter of the Nashville Predators, and it continues to be a great source of pride for our company and our teammates to have the arena bear our name," said Bridgestone Americas President and CEO Gordon Knapp. "Now that our new headquarters building is located across the street from the arena, there's even more of a connection to our city and pro hockey team. Like the rest of the world, we've witnessed the success of both the arena and the Preds, and we are excited to continue our partnership with a local landmark that has helped transform downtown Nashville into one of the top destinations in the country. We look forward to keeping the Bridgestone brand front and center with so many passionate fans of sport, music and the countless other world-class entertainment events hosted by this celebrated venue."

Bridgestone and the Predators agreed to the new extension two years in advance of the conclusion of the previous five-year agreement signed in 2015. Exact terms of the agreement are not being disclosed.
"We're ecstatic to extend our valuable partnership with Bridgestone to ensure the home of the Predators, and one of the greatest venues in North America, continues to be Bridgestone Arena," said Sean Henry, Chief Executive Officer and President, Nashville Predators. "As the Predators gain more traction as a household sports franchise and Bridgestone Arena strengthens its position as a dynamic, must-visit site, it's only fitting that we also bolster our relationship with a world-renowned manufacturing and innovation leader who shares our commitment to the Nashville community."

Since Bridgestone Americas teamed up with the Nashville Predators seven years ago, the arena has skyrocketed to become one of the most successful venues in the U.S. - annually hosting more than one million people in the building - and the Preds were named the "best franchise in sports" in 2017 by ESPN. Along the way, Bridgestone Arena has broken attendance records and achieved a series of industry awards. Recent highlights include:
These accomplishments reflect Bridgestone Arena's continued focus on one primary mission, which is to be the No. 1 sports and entertainment venue in North America with a Stanley Cup Champion Nashville Predators franchise as its centerpiece.

About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.:
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM) is the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world's largest tire and rubber company. BSAM and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires to address the needs of a broad range of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers, and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries. The companies are also engaged in retreading operations throughout the Western Hemisphere and produce air springs, roofing materials, and industrial fibers and textiles. The BSAM family of companies also operates the world's largest chain of automotive tire and service centers. Guided by its One Team, One Planet message, the company is dedicated to achieving a positive environmental impact in all of the communities it calls home.
About Bridgestone Arena:
Serving as the home for numerous national and international events, Bridgestone Arena has the distinction of being one of the busiest venues in the Unites States since the doors first opened in 1996, hosting more than 20 million guests during that time. The NHL's Nashville Predators have been the primary tenants of Bridgestone Arena since 1998 and boast one of the most unique game atmospheres in the NHL. The list of acts that have called the 2017 IEBA Arena of the Year home is lengthy and includes the Country Music Association Awards; the Country Music Television Awards; Keith Urban's "We're All For the Hall" benefit concerts; NCAA, SEC and OVC Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments; and entertainers such as Garth Brooks, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Billy Joel, the Rolling Stones, Tim McGraw, KISS, Metallica and Lady Gaga.
About Nashville Predators:
The Nashville Predators became the National Hockey League's 27th team on May 4, 1998 and have evolved from a young expansion franchise into a staple of the Middle Tennessee community in the 19 years since. The team strives each season to reach its One Goal: becoming a Stanley Cup Champion hockey team while making Bridgestone Arena number one sports and entertainment venue in the United States. With One Goal in mind, the team saw its greatest success in team history during the 2016-17 season, reaching the Stanley Cup Final.