Bridgestone, premier sponsor of the NHL’s Winter Classic, is rumored to purchase naming rights at 501 Broadway.
According to CoolSprings.com, the rumor mill is churning. This would be a major win for Bridgestone, who already has major in-roads with the NHL, and also to bolster their brand in Nashville. This is a easy buy for any company in the area, as the Music City Center is beginning construction and also the new medical trade center that is proposed for the old Nashville Convention Center.
Thoughts? That’s what the comments are for. Or tweet us @Cellblock303 and let’s get #501Broadway trending.
Update 1: Same source expects an announcement sometime next week. Wow.
The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. The Arena has had a face lift recently. There’s a section of wall that’s now got a brick look, and several banners regarding safe driving. I’m expecting to see a Bridgestone logo in the center of it once the annoucement is made. If nothing else, it’s something to look at before or after the San Jose game.
Update 2: Thanks to Todd’s comment, we’re pointed to the fact that Bridgestone is making sure the squatting stops now. It looks like things are really starting to solidify for Bridgestone Center/Arena/Centre becoming the home of the Preds. Stick tap to Todd for the update!
Kinda saw this coming (or wishful thinking), they have an office somewhere right by the interstate (cant say where exactly, only saw it while coming from Memphis, I’m now coming from Murfressboro.) And as someone who has a Bridgestone Motorsport lanyard dangling from my pocket as I type, I am thrilled if this goes through. Such a big name company with global reach in F1, MotoGP, GP2, etc is a great addition to Nashville.
Liquidfire, the office is actually Bridgestone’s corporate headquarters.
Actually that office you saw is the U.S. headquarters of Bridgestone’s International Corporation. They’re a Japanese company and their U.S. operations have been here in Nashville since 1988, which is why I’ve wondered for a long time how they could be so involved with NHL Hockey (e.g.: The Winter Classic) and not be a name sponsor for the Preds? Sommet has never made any sense to me and clearly now in retrospect had no clue what they were getting themselves into when they took this naming rights thing on. I am extremely happy about this! Hopefully now our other Japanses/U.S.-based corporate entity, Nissan, will get on the stick and start becoming more involved as well after seeing what their countrymen have done. Perhaps a little friendly regional competition?
Nissan has ramped up involvement during this season, so I think the response is already in place. Bridgestone has been a sponsor of Smashville for a while as well, but it’s a huge step to move up to the ranks of naming rights to the building.
What happens to the money that a company pays for the naming rights? Does it go to the team or the city?
**UPDATE** on Bridgestone Acquiring Sommet Center Naming Rights
CoolSprings.com just posted a huge update regarding Bridgestone acquiring the naming rights to Nashville’s Sommet Center. Here are the six most likely names for Bridgestone to choose from, based on sixteen domain names Heather Novak with Bridgestone Americas Holdings registered last week…
Bridgestone Center
Bridgestone Centre
Bridgestone Arena
Bridgestone Tire Center
Bridgestone Tire Centre
Bridgestone Tire Arena
http://www.coolsprings.com/news/sommet-center-now-bridgestone-center/