From the day Bridgestone became an NHL partner in 2008, the company’s vice president of consumer marketing, Phil Pacsi, said his boss has never let up on Commissioner Gary Bettman on the merits of Nashville, where the company has its U.S. headquarters.
“It’s something that’s always been on the radar for the city and our CEOs: to showcase what the [Nashville] Predators can do, what our hometown is all about, and the great growth of this city,” Pacsi said of the push from Bridgestone Americas President and CEO Gary Garfield and other company leaders.
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Bridgestone is presenting sponsor of the Winter Park area near Bridgestone Arena.
Photo by: JOHN RUSSELL
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That moment comes in force this weekend, as the city hosts the NHL’s 2016 All-Star Game. But it’s also a big moment for Bridgestone, which since 2008 has held naming rights to the Predators’ arena, the main stage for this weekend’s activities. It also is the presenting sponsor of both the indoor NHL Fan Fair and the outdoor Winter Park activation areas set up near Bridgestone Arena.
“The league had faith in us by allowing the city to host the draft [in 2003], which I still hear people rave about,” Pacsi said. “But I think with this All-Star Game, we’ll be able to step that up even further and create a new gold standard for what this event can be.”
The All-Star presence also gives Bridgestone another prominent midseason stage leaguewide. The company has sponsored the NHL Winter Classic since 2009. It signed a five-year renewal with the league for those rights in July.
Within Nashville, Bridgestone for this week has worked with other local companies and businesses to create something that Pacsi said would be “a true Nashville event,” with hockey activities interspersed with free concerts from marquee country acts, including Dierks Bentley. At the Fan Fair, Bridgestone will host a slap shot challenge where past Predators goalies will take part so that fans can shoot on the former NHLers.
It adds up to an important moment for Bridgestone, Pacsi said, adding that a new downtown Nashville headquarters for the company is under construction within viewing range of all the ongoing events. (The company’s global headquarters is in Tokyo.)
“We’ve been able to transform this downtown area into almost a Bridgestone Land, as you won’t be able to turn around and not see something we’re involved in,” he said. “It’s just really been a fun opportunity to showcase to everyone not only what we’re doing, but what the whole Nashville community has been doing as well.”
