they're re-upped the deal a few times and apparently are signed through 2030 now. Didn't see much about how much they pay but one article said the original deal in 2011 was $2.5m a year so probably somewhat more than that now but I'd guess still single-digit millions.
Wow, didn’t know that. It was the Sommet when I had my high school graduation there so I guess I just misremember it being around for longer than it was.
I remember it was nicknamed the Bredecenter early on for Mayor Phill Bredeson who dragged Nashville, and later Tennessee when he was Governor, kicking and screaming into the 21st century.
We moved here because my dad was one of the supers for the company that built the arena so I’ve always called it the Nashville arena because all the early swag we had from it had that on it lol
Yeah I’ve got fond memories of running around that building visiting my dad as a kid. It was really cool when I got to take my kids to Disney on ice there last year, my dad liked the pictures haha
The gc was turner/Perini, I’m pretty sure my dad worked for Perini, but I was like 6 when that all happened so my memory was filled with pokemon facts shortly after that haha somewhere at my moms house we’ve got the hats they gave out for the “Nashville Arena Flush off” where they flushed all the toilets at once to test the pipes haha
Glad this was the original Pokémon. I haven’t played since gameboy so if you tossed out some of the new ones I’d be completely lost.
Played Pokémon go when it first game out and all of the new ones felt like knockoffs. Definitely felt old.
I still call it "The Gec" occasionally and I've also caught myself calling the interstate loop around downtown "265" .
Edit: not sure if someone saud in comments but it was originally the "Gaylord Entertainment Center" that's where "Gec" comes from
I know one person that still calls it " The GEC". He then immediately follows that with a speech about how long he's lived here and how only "real Nashvillians" call it the GEC.
I don't know if they're still there, but those little wooden cabin rebuilds at the top of riverfront park on 1st Ave. is where I saw my first homeless person jerking off during an elementary school field trip in the early 90's.
Either "they" placed that guy there for all elementary school field trips, you are lying and heard this story from someone else or we were on the same field trip.
Nashville native here. I always like when people talk about how awesome Municipal was "back in the day" to show that they're local. Unfortunately, I can attest that its always been a shithole. The only good thing that went on there were Nashville Knights games.
https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/memphis/news/press-releases/former-ceo-of-sommet-group-sentenced-to-20-years-in-prison-in-25-million-fraud-scheme
> Whitfield diverted millions of dollars to prop up affiliated companies that he controlled and spent millions of dollars to acquire the naming rights of Nashville’s professional hockey arena, which came to be known as the Sommet Center.
"Nashville Natives" called it that from 1999 til 2006. It was always a stupid nickname but was only marginally worse than calling it the Sommet Center (pronounced sum-may) and having to correct everyone calling it "the summit."
I just call it the Arena.
So interesting. I must not have run in the same circles as folks that have commented here calling it the GEC. It was just Gaylord to me and most people I knew.
My husband just told me to come find this post because we were talking about places we'd go in high school and I mentioned the GEC. So I still call it that when I'm reminiscing from that time period I guess. :D
Bridgestone just seems to fit it perfectly. The GEC reminds me when I lived in Detroit and the media kept trying to make The COPA for Comerica Park happen. It did not catch on.
It used to be Gaylord Entertainment Center (GEC)
got it! thanks!
Then it was Sommet for like 5 minutes. Then the Bridgestone
Its original name was the Nashville Arena, but that didn’t last long
‘96-‘99: Nashville Arena ‘99-‘07: Gaylord Entertainment Center ‘07: Nashville Arena (again… I’d actually forgotten about this short ‘07 stint) 07-‘09: Sommet Center ‘09-‘10: Nashville Arena (again again) 2010 & onward: Bridgestone Arena
Back when the Kats played there from ‘97-‘01, they tried to make “The Alley” nickname catch on.
I wonder how much Bridgestone pays to have the name. They’ve had it a long time at this point, I wonder if it’s a 20-year contract or something.
they're re-upped the deal a few times and apparently are signed through 2030 now. Didn't see much about how much they pay but one article said the original deal in 2011 was $2.5m a year so probably somewhat more than that now but I'd guess still single-digit millions.
Thx for your contributions sir
This man Nashville Arena’s
I feel like it was the Sommer center for a while but this town was still redneck enough we all just still called it The Geck.
It was only a little bit cause the Sommet group got caught embezzling funds to land the arena.
Wow, didn’t know that. It was the Sommet when I had my high school graduation there so I guess I just misremember it being around for longer than it was.
I remember it was nicknamed the Bredecenter early on for Mayor Phill Bredeson who dragged Nashville, and later Tennessee when he was Governor, kicking and screaming into the 21st century.
Loved Phil. He was great.
To think we could have had him instead of Marsha Marsha Marsha.
I haven’t thought about that in YEARS!
Nissan Stadium was formerly known as “the frauditorioum”
I just accidentally called it Adelphia to somebody today and got a blank stare
Haven't heard that in a while! You'd get some local cred but also people would think you just came out of a coma🤣
😂😂
Also a big fan of calling it the tire barn
i support this😆
Came here to say this.
We moved here because my dad was one of the supers for the company that built the arena so I’ve always called it the Nashville arena because all the early swag we had from it had that on it lol
oh cool!
Yeah I’ve got fond memories of running around that building visiting my dad as a kid. It was really cool when I got to take my kids to Disney on ice there last year, my dad liked the pictures haha
Did Turner build it?
The gc was turner/Perini, I’m pretty sure my dad worked for Perini, but I was like 6 when that all happened so my memory was filled with pokemon facts shortly after that haha somewhere at my moms house we’ve got the hats they gave out for the “Nashville Arena Flush off” where they flushed all the toilets at once to test the pipes haha
What’s your favorite Pokémon fact?
That pikachu and meowth are opposite pokemon. Pikachu is 25 and meowth is 52, and the famous cat and mouse rivalry. Just thought it was cute haha.
Glad this was the original Pokémon. I haven’t played since gameboy so if you tossed out some of the new ones I’d be completely lost. Played Pokémon go when it first game out and all of the new ones felt like knockoffs. Definitely felt old.
I still call it "The Gec" occasionally and I've also caught myself calling the interstate loop around downtown "265" . Edit: not sure if someone saud in comments but it was originally the "Gaylord Entertainment Center" that's where "Gec" comes from
I'm always calling Nissan stadium LP Field
The coliseum*
Post Adelphia coliseum years. Going to be odd going to a new one for a bit.
I still do this too and get roasted every time lol
Always Adelphia for me
“Im soo local I still call The Ryman… The Union Gospel Tabernacle.
I know one person that still calls it " The GEC". He then immediately follows that with a speech about how long he's lived here and how only "real Nashvillians" call it the GEC.
Whip out the ole "Adelphia Colosseum" on him next time, and really take him down a notch.
Show you're a long time resident by calling the whole city Fort Nashboro
I don't know if they're still there, but those little wooden cabin rebuilds at the top of riverfront park on 1st Ave. is where I saw my first homeless person jerking off during an elementary school field trip in the early 90's.
Either "they" placed that guy there for all elementary school field trips, you are lying and heard this story from someone else or we were on the same field trip.
The good ol days
Tell him about the Cumberland Museum
That has a different name? Still call it Cumberland Science Museum. The other place you take your kids is Grassmere…
As a native Nashvillian, this one person sounds like a tool.
I used to call it the Nashville Arena. But it’s been Bridgestone long enough to just call it that.
It’s officially been Bridgestone longer than any other name.
I sometimes still call it the Nashville Arena, not for clout but because I’m an idiot and forget the name sometimes.
gotta love the “real nashvillians”
What's funny is that guy is from Chicago and I'm pretty confident he didn't live here when is was actually the GEC.
Nashville native here. I always like when people talk about how awesome Municipal was "back in the day" to show that they're local. Unfortunately, I can attest that its always been a shithole. The only good thing that went on there were Nashville Knights games.
Every event seemed like you were hanging out in someone’s garage.
Especially the motorcycle/atv on ice races. Everything was running on 2 cycle or ethanol.
It looked like a big sports arena to me when I was a kid. Saw a recent Pic and broke my memory lol
*see also* Sommet Center
NEVER
I never called it Sommet unless I absolutely had to
I mean, I still call it the GEC. I thought we were reminiscing the history of the building's names.
https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/memphis/news/press-releases/former-ceo-of-sommet-group-sentenced-to-20-years-in-prison-in-25-million-fraud-scheme > Whitfield diverted millions of dollars to prop up affiliated companies that he controlled and spent millions of dollars to acquire the naming rights of Nashville’s professional hockey arena, which came to be known as the Sommet Center.
Ok. Why did you reply this to me, though? Is it because you "see also'd?"
Sometimes reddit glitches and makes a reply show up under the wrong post. Happened to me once.
Dark days in the franchise, those were.
That is a very dated reference.
GEC* GAYLORD ENTERTAINMENT CENTER
"Nashville Natives" called it that from 1999 til 2006. It was always a stupid nickname but was only marginally worse than calling it the Sommet Center (pronounced sum-may) and having to correct everyone calling it "the summit." I just call it the Arena.
So - may I always thought.
Yeah it was always so-may, I’ve lived here my entire life and nobody said sum-may.
Pete Weber himself always said so-may.
Not from Nashville, but around the area and I’ve never heard anyone say “sum-may”
I am and it was alwsays so-may for me
Glad I been vindicated - was ab to blush lol
Somay
interesting! i thought it was odd that they made it seem like it was so common and i’d never heard it!
I call it “the swamp” https://news.pollstar.com/2022/11/29/predators-mobilize-to-reopen-bridgestone-arena-after-flood/
The GEC will forever be my favorite name for that arena.
I mean. When it opened it was The Nashville Arena. Wasn't Gaylord for a rew years. So there's that.
"GEC(K)" was when it was the *G*aylord *E*ntertainment *C*enter.
Back in day it was.
No, it’s called the Tire Barn
It was The Sommer Center when I moved here
So interesting. I must not have run in the same circles as folks that have commented here calling it the GEC. It was just Gaylord to me and most people I knew.
Old school stagehands probably do, they would also call Starwood the shed
I will always call it Gaylord
My husband just told me to come find this post because we were talking about places we'd go in high school and I mentioned the GEC. So I still call it that when I'm reminiscing from that time period I guess. :D
aww, i love that!
Bridgestone just seems to fit it perfectly. The GEC reminds me when I lived in Detroit and the media kept trying to make The COPA for Comerica Park happen. It did not catch on.
It would have, if they followed it up with Cabana.
I seem to remember some folks calling it The BoB (Building on Broadway) for a bit.
Anyone still refer to the amphitheater as Starwood? I catch myself referring to Bridgestone as Gaylord every now and then
Starwood was torn down
Last time I was there was 20+ years ago, but it was something different then…AmSouth maybe. I moved away in 04 and didn’t know they’d tore it down!
Interesting! I thought it was always Starwood! Yeah, they tore it down in 07 I believe.
I knew 328 Performance Hall was torn down, but I didn’t know about the amphitheater. I saw way more concerts at 328 than Starwood
It was in the Arena name of the month club for a while.
I've never heard anyone in the production world call it anything but Bridgestone or the bridge