Bridgestone Arena Introduces New COVID Protocols
Add Bridgestone Arena in Nashville to a growing list of venues that have chosen to follow their own version of science by implementing oppressive COVID protocols.
The home of the Nashville Predators and countless other entertainment events each year announced today that patrons will have to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test to enter the premises. The Predators, who have called Bridgestone Arena home for more than 20 years, are the 14th team in the National Hockey League planning to start the 2021-22 season in a venue with similar COVID restrictions.
Arena officials did concede that the policy is fluid and subject to relaxation after Nov. 15, depending on local and state health recommendations.
"Throughout the pandemic we have been consistent in stating that the health and wellness of all arena guests, Predators fans, our employees, players and performers is our number one priority," said Sean Henry, President and CEO of Bridgestone Arena and the Nashville Predators.
"Just two months ago, we believed that we were returning to a sense of normalcy, but unfortunately, with the impact of the delta variant, that has not been the case. We are united with health care professionals in our belief that the only way to end this pandemic is to get more people vaccinated.
"To that end, we want to do our part with these policies to make sure that our game and event attendees are as safe as possible and, at the same time, we will use our public platform to amplify the message of the importance of vaccines in hopes of encouraging more people to get vaccinated."
Children under 12 years old will be able to enter the venue as long as they wear a mask the entire duration of their visit. Nothing says ‘safety’ like slapping a diaper over your kid’s mouth in a building full of vaccinated, negative patrons. Of course, Bridgestone will recommend that all patrons continue to wear face coverings, regardless of vaccination status. Why? Because at the end of the day, nobody truly knows a damn thing, and yet we continue to parade around mindlessly, vanquishing civil liberties at every turn.
"On behalf of all or our health care workers and staff battling this pandemic every hour of every day, I'd like to thank our partners at Bridgestone Arena for having the courage to step forward like this," said Dr. C. Wright Pinson, Deputy CEO and Chief Health System Officer at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. "We all recognize that the only way to stem the COVID-19 pandemic in middle Tennessee and across the country is to increase vaccination levels and we salute our local leaders, like those at Bridgestone Arena and the Predators for doing their part."