Where Bridgestone Arena Actually Sits in Nashville
Bridgestone Arena anchors the west end of Lower Broadway at the corner of Broadway and 5th Avenue. The Ryman Auditorium sits one block north on 5th. Music City Center sits directly south across 6th Avenue. The honky-tonk strip — Tootsies, Robert’s Western World, Legends Corner, Honky Tonk Central — runs east from the arena door for the next four blocks down Broadway to the Cumberland River.
That location is the entire reason an arena event in Nashville plays differently than one in most other cities: your post-show is built into the venue. You walk out the doors of a Predators game or a stadium-sized concert and you’re already standing in the loudest neighborhood in America. The strategy isn’t finding entertainment after the show — it’s finding a quiet place to sleep that’s still close enough to walk back to in the morning.
What Bridgestone Hosts (And When the Pocket Gets Loud)
Nashville Predators Hockey
41 regular-season home games October through April, plus playoffs through June if the run is on. The arena gets loud — the catfish-on-ice crowd is one of the most committed fanbases in the league.
Major Concerts
Year-round. Country, rock, pop, comedy, and arena tours stop here. End-stage capacity runs 18,500; center-stage productions push 20,000.
The CMA Awards
Country music’s biggest night, broadcast live on ABC from Bridgestone Arena. The Wednesday in November when downtown becomes red-carpet-loud.
SEC Basketball + March Tournaments
Bridgestone has hosted the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament multiple times and continues to draw NCAA tournament rounds. Basketball capacity: 19,395.
Disney on Ice & Family Shows
Family-friendly arena tours stop at Bridgestone year-round — Disney on Ice, Cirque, Monster Jam, Sesame Street Live. Quieter pocket on family-show afternoons.
Comedy Tours & Specials
Big-name comedy and one-night specials drop in throughout the year. Same pocket, same crowd flow, same walk-in-walk-out logic.
The Best Music City Magnolia Homes for Bridgestone Arena
Six homes solve the arena math, ranked by how close you actually are to the door. The first two walk in. The next four are a quick rideshare and skip the $40 garage shuffle.
Mockingbird
Hope Gardens · Downtown / Germantown
The closest walk to Bridgestone. 10–15 minutes door to arena gate. 4 BR, 2 full + 2 half bath, walkable to the Ryman one block north of Bridgestone, the honky-tonks, and Germantown’s steakhouses (see our where to stay in Germantown Nashville guide for the full neighborhood breakdown). The downtown-walkable flagship.
Check Mockingbird datesSouthern Charm
Hope Gardens · Downtown / Germantown
Same walk, same neighborhood, sister property to Mockingbird. 10–15 minutes to the arena door. Book both side by side when a bachelorette weekend includes a Predators night or a CMA Awards viewing.
Check Southern Charm datesHonky Tonk Party Pads — Johnny
Midtown · West End / Centennial Park
Pad 1 of two side-by-side luxury condo units in Midtown. 5-minute rideshare to Bridgestone. Walkable to the Parthenon, Centennial Park, and Music Row. The Midtown move when you want a condo with private pool access plus an easy arena ride.
Check Johnny datesHonky Tonk Party Pads — Dolly
Midtown · West End / Centennial Park
Pad 2, side by side with Johnny. Same Midtown condo building, same 5-minute rideshare to the arena. Book Johnny + Dolly together for groups of 12+ who want adjacent doors and one Uber ride to Bridgestone.
Check Dolly datesRocky Top
Midtown
The pet-friendly Midtown play. 5-minute rideshare to Bridgestone. Walkable to the Parthenon and Centennial Park, with a short rideshare to the Country Music Hall of Fame at the east end of Broadway. Bring the dog.
Check Rocky Top datesBluebird
12South · Belmont
The quietest base for an arena weekend. 5–8 minute rideshare to Bridgestone. 12South’s boutique-and-brunch corridor pairs naturally with a concert or game night — brunch at Frothy Monkey, walk Belmont, rideshare in for the show.
Check Bluebird datesNot on this list on purpose: Cumberland Retreat and Deacon’s House. Both sit on the East Bank built for Nissan Stadium walkability — they’re the wrong side of the river for a Bridgestone night because the post-show bridge crossing eats your time advantage. If a Predators night is one slot of a multi-event weekend that includes a Titans game, Cumberland still works — just plan rideshare for the arena night.
Walk vs Rideshare vs Drive to Bridgestone Arena
The honest answer to “can I walk to Bridgestone” depends on which Music City Magnolia home you book. The math:
| Home | Neighborhood | To Bridgestone | Best move |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mockingbird | Hope Gardens / Downtown | ~10–15 min walk | Walk in, walk out, skip the garage |
| Southern Charm | Hope Gardens / Downtown | ~10–15 min walk | Walk in, walk out, skip the garage |
| Honky Tonk Party Pads (Johnny, Dolly) | Midtown / West End | ~5 min rideshare | Rideshare both directions; pre-call after song two of the encore |
| Rocky Top | Midtown | ~5 min rideshare | Rideshare both directions; pet-friendly base |
| Bluebird | 12South / Belmont | ~5–8 min rideshare | Pair with a 12South brunch day |
| Hydrangea | East Nashville / 5 Points | ~10–15 min rideshare | Rideshare; bridge crossing adds time on event nights |
Arena Night Logistics (The Basics)
- Doors open 90 minutes before tip-off / puck drop / first song. Bridgestone runs a clear-bag policy: bags under 14″ × 14″ × 6″, no backpacks for most events. Check the event page before you walk in.
- The Ryman is one block north on 5th. If the night is a concert and you can get a Ryman ticket the night before or after, do — it’s a Nashville landmark and the best-sounding 2,300-seat room in town.
- Honky-tonks are free. Tootsies, Robert’s, Legends Corner, Honky Tonk Central, Nudie’s — no cover, bands play for tips, bring cash for the buckets. Easy pre-game or post-show stop on the walk back.
- Parking runs $25–$50 on event nights. The 6th Avenue arena garage and Music City Center garage fill fastest. Prepay via SpotHero or ParkMobile, or skip parking entirely and walk/rideshare. See our Nashville parking guide for the full strategy.
- Eat before 5th and Broadway gets ugly. Restaurants near the arena (Acme, Merchants, The Stillery) get crushed in the 90-minute window before puck drop. Reserve by 5:30pm for a 7pm show or pre-game at the rental.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I stay near Bridgestone Arena?
Mockingbird and Southern Charm in Hope Gardens are the two Music City Magnolia homes that walk to Bridgestone Arena — about 10 to 15 minutes door to arena gate. Both sit just north of the state Capitol in a residential pocket that quiets down by 11pm. Honky Tonk Party Pads, Rocky Top, and Bluebird are 5 to 8 minute rideshares from the arena and pair well with concert and game weekends that want a calmer base.
What is the address of Bridgestone Arena?
Bridgestone Arena is at 501 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203, at the corner of Broadway and 5th Avenue South. The arena sits at the west end of Lower Broadway, diagonal to the Ryman Auditorium and directly north of Music City Center.
Can you walk from a Nashville vacation rental to Bridgestone Arena?
Yes — from Mockingbird and Southern Charm in Hope Gardens it’s a 10 to 15 minute walk to the Bridgestone Arena gate. From Midtown homes (Honky Tonk Party Pads, Rocky Top) it’s technically walkable at 25 to 30 minutes past Vanderbilt, but most guests grab a 5-minute rideshare. From East Nashville the bridge crossing makes rideshare the standard move.
Where do the Nashville Predators play?
The Nashville Predators have played their home games at Bridgestone Arena since the franchise was established in 1998. The arena seats 17,159 for hockey and is located at 501 Broadway at the corner of Broadway and 5th Avenue South.
Where are the CMA Awards held?
The CMA Awards are held annually at Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville, broadcast live on ABC. The ceremony typically runs the Wednesday before Thanksgiving in November. Doors open by 5:30pm and the show starts at 7:00pm CT.
Is parking at Bridgestone Arena expensive?
Yes. Lots and garages near the arena run $25 to $50 on event nights, with the 6th Avenue arena-attached garage and the Music City Center garage filling fastest. The cheapest move is leaving the car parked at the rental and walking in from Hope Gardens, or ridesharing from Midtown or 12South. Prepay via SpotHero or ParkMobile if driving is required.
How early should I arrive at Bridgestone for a concert?
Doors typically open 60 to 90 minutes before show start. For a 7pm or 7:30pm concert, plan to arrive between 6:00 and 6:30pm to clear security, find your seat, and grab food without missing the opener. For Predators games, doors open at 6:00pm for a 7:00pm puck drop.
What is the closest neighborhood to Bridgestone Arena for a vacation rental?
Hope Gardens, the residential pocket just north of the state Capitol and the Tennessee State Museum, is the closest Music City Magnolia rental neighborhood. From Mockingbird or Southern Charm it’s a 10 to 15 minute walk south to Bridgestone. Midtown by Centennial Park and 12South are the next-closest rental pockets and run a 5 to 8 minute rideshare to the arena. (Comparing all eight Music City Magnolia neighborhoods? See our best Nashville neighborhoods to stay in guide.)
Is Bridgestone Arena loud?
Inside, yes — Predators home games are one of the loudest hockey environments in the NHL, and arena concerts run 95+ decibels for the headliner. Outside on event nights, Broadway between 5th and the river runs neon-loud through 1am. Hope Gardens and Midtown quiet down by 11pm even on big event nights.
How close is Bridgestone Arena to Lower Broadway?
It anchors the west end of it. The arena entrance is on Broadway at 5th Avenue, and the honky-tonk strip runs east from the arena door for four blocks to the Cumberland River at 1st Avenue. Most arena pre-games and post-shows happen at Tootsies, Robert’s, or Acme — all 4 to 6 minutes on foot from the gate. (Pairing an arena night with an outdoor concert? Ascend Amphitheater is two blocks east of Broadway on the river.)