There are handfuls of classic stadiums, fields, and arenas that are a core part of the city they reside in. There’s Wrigley in Chicago, Allegiant in Vegas, Fenway in Boston, but nothing that I’ve seen can compare to Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
I visited Nashville for my first time this past weekend (hence the no post on Friday, the bars got the best of me), and I am certain that there is no closer distance from the most active parts of a city to a sports venue than here. It’s a weird statistic that I won’t be able to back up with a source, but just trust me on this one.
This is what comes up when you search “bars near Bridgestone Arena”, and with my elite Photoshop skills I placed a star on the venue for reference. All of those bars are on the main strip, and each one has multiple bands playing live music 24/7. You won’t find anybody who enjoys tailgates more than myself, but this Nashville scene is top tier in it’s own right.
And it’s not only the Predators who have a great location. Nissan Stadium, the home of the Tennessee Titans, is also positioned heavenly close to Broadway. A short 15 minute walk from some of the best bars in America will take you to the home of Mike Vrabel and King Henry, which is the closest NFL stadium to it’s city’s downtown of any place you would like to visit.
There are eight cities that technically have their stadiums more downtown than Nashville, but none of them (maybe besides New Orleans) have livelier and more attractive areas for visitors. Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Detroit need to step up their game if they want to compete in this area.
I hope everybody has an amazing Fourth of July, and if you have a stadiums that you think tops Bridgestone or Nissan, sound off in the comments!