VenuesNow 2026 All-Star Honoree: Sean Henry

Sean Henry
Chief Executive Officer
Nashville Predators, Bridgestone Arena, Ford Ice Centers, F&M Bank Arena and Sabertooth Sports & Entertainment Enterprises

FAVORITE VENUE TO SEE A SHOW OTHER THAN YOUR OWN
“Pine Knob Amphitheater and the Ryman.” ”

Sean Henry celebrated 16 years as part of the Nashville Predators and Bridgestone Arena family in August, joining first as COO before being named CEO in 2015.

That era has been not only the Predators’ most
successful on the ice — the team won its first playoff series in Henry’s first season and has, in various years, hosted an All-Star Game and Stanley Cup Final and won the Presidents’ Trophy with the NHL’s best regular season record — but has also marked Bridgestone Arena’s emergence as one of the country’s top arenas for concerts, with regular appearances among the top North American arenas in Pollstar’s venue charts. 

Recent sold-out shows reported to Pollstar Boxoffice from the 20,000-capacity arena include Alex Warren, Treaty Oak Revival,  Bring Me The Horizon, Third Day, Riley Green and New Edition, among others. 

The organization has also opened F&M Bank Arena in nearby Clarksville and three Ford Ice Centers, providing much-needed rinks to local hockey and figure skating groups, while the 30-year-old Bridgestone Arena itself is in the midst of a multi-year, billion-dollar renovation that will not only upgrade the building but add retail and restaurant space at Fifth & Broadway.

Through all that time and all those changes, Henry’s focus has stayed consistent.

“Our daily philosophy is, ‘Last night was great, but how could we improve it?’ We take this on every single day and with every process; once this is embraced, the fan experience is ever evolving in such a good way,” he says.

And improving that experience means “developing more and more spaces that allow people to enjoy Smashville their way.” 

“For some, that is using our sensory room or taking the game or show in from a boutique club, the concourse, a FOMO area, or dancing in the aisles,” he says. ”Transforming our venue and adding 200,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space will allow even more of this, including rooftop hospitality areas.”