Nashville Fairgrounds Stadium

The Nashville Fairgrounds Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium under construction at the historic Nashville Fairgrounds in Nashville, Tennessee. It will be the home of Major League Soccer club Nashville SC, which began play as an expansion team in 2020 at its temporary home in Nissan Stadium. Lawsuits to prevent its construction filed by supporters of the historic Tennessee State Fair were dismissed by Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle in 2017 and 2019, but overturned by Appellate Judge J. Steven Stafford in July 2019 and litigation continues as of March 2020.

Fairgrounds Stadium
Nashville Fairgrounds Stadium Concept Art
Fairgrounds Stadium
Location in Nashville
Fairgrounds Stadium
Location in Tennessee
Fairgrounds Stadium
Location in the United States
Address625 Smith Avenue
LocationNashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Coordinates36°7′49″N 86°45′56″W
OwnerMetro Nashville
OperatorNashville SC
TypeSoccer-specific stadium
Capacity27,500–30,000
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke groundJuly 22, 2020[1]
ArchitectPopulous
BuilderTRC Construction Services
Tenants
Nashville SC (MLS) 2022–

Construction

In December 2016, the construction was expected to cost $275 million.[2] Billionaire businessman John Ingram was expected to pay "$25 million up front and $9 million a year over 30 years to help retire Metro's annual $13 million debt for the $225 bond issuance."[2] Additionally, the Nashville Fairgrounds would be renovated for an additional $40 million.[3]

As part of the public-private partnership, Mayor Megan Barry vowed to give "10 acres of city-owned fairgrounds land for a mix-use development next to the stadium" to the developers, including Ingram.[4]

The Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County approved $25 million in 2018, and an additional $5 million was approved directly by Mayor David Briley's office "from a 2017 contingency fund" without the council's approval in February 2019, for a total of $37.6 million.[5]

The stadium is expected to be part of a re-development project at the fairgrounds site that is to also include a relocated Expo event space, new mixed-use retail and residential buildings and an upgraded Fairgrounds Speedway capable of hosting NASCAR events.[6][7]

By February 2019, its construction had been delayed and its budget had increased.[5] The original builder, Ely Concrete, abandoned the project and they were replaced by TRC Construction Services.[5] By August 2019, the construction was expected to cost "between $325 million and $345 million", or "between $50 million and $70 million more than initial estimates," to be covered by billionaire Ingram and other investors, not taxpayers.[8]

As of July 2019, an exposition center was under construction for the State Fair. [9] By August 23, the fair was expected to be held on September 6-15 "in the old fairgrounds space."[10]

A resolution to stop the demolition of buildings and make way for the stadium was introduced by council member Steve Glover on August 2,[11] but it was voted down on August 21.[12]

Nashville SC was originally supposed to start playing in the stadium in 2020,[13] but by 2019 it had been delayed to 2022.[9] It is expected to be "the largest stadium built for soccer in North America" according to The Tennessean.[8]

On March 29, 2019, Trevecca Nazarene University announced that in addition to the launching of its football program in 2021, it also announced that the team will be playing home games at the stadium in 2022.[14]

Revised stadium deal and construction

On February 13, 2020, the agreements of the stadium deal were amended in order to allow for construction to begin on the site. This amended deal, an agreement reached by Nashville mayor John Cooper and the club's lead owner, John R. Ingram, stated that the team will fund 100 percent of the stadium's construction costs on the Fairgrounds site. This will be accomplished through lease payments on the stadium, cash investments, and revenue collected from the attendees of events at the stadium. In addition to the aforementioned agreement from the team, Nashville SC also committed to paying for the infrastructure in the immediate area around the stadium, estimated to cost $19 million. The team will pay $35 million in lease payments. Altogether, the team has agreed to a total of $54 million in additional payments. [15]

In addition to the aforementioned monetary agreements of the deal, the team and the city finally came to an agreement on the parcel of land titled 8C. Parcel 8C is about 2.4 acres in size and is located between the site of the future stadium and the Fairgrounds Speedway.[16] This parcel of land is what prohibited a deal from being reached prior to February 13, 2020. Mayor Cooper wanted the team to give up this piece of land and in a response to a letter from John Ingram, Cooper described parcel 8C saying, "The public space that links two 30,000-seat stadiums has the potential to become one of the most important in Nashville. Careful design and execution is essential to make the site work for two large public venues - supporting circulation, security, staging and access."[17] Ultimately, the deal reached between the city and the team on February 13 stated that the piece of land will be made into a mixed-use open plaza that will allow space for future Fairgrounds and Speedway activities and uses. [18]

On March 16, 2020, demolition on the fairgrounds site began.[19] On April 9, 2020, Ian Ayre published an open letter to fans stating that the demolition on the site is “progressing steadily and in a timely fashion." Ayre also stated that team had completed construction documents and that the expected completion date for the stadium is mid-May 2022.[20]

Lawsuits

In November 2017, Metro Nashville was sued by a group called Save Our Fairgrounds on the basis that the construction could disrupt the Tennessee State Fair, the Nashville Flea Market, and Fairgrounds Speedway racing activities.[21] The lawsuit was dismissed by Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle in December 2017.[22][23] The dismissal was overturned by Appellate Judge J. Steven Stafford in July 2019 to address the "duties of the Fair Board and their ability to collect taxes on fairground activities."[9]

In January 2019, a second lawsuit was filed by Tennessee State Fair Association (TSFA), chaired by Republican Congressman John Rose, against the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.[24] According to The Tennessean, the suit contended that the construction of the stadium failed to "leave sufficient space and structures for the state fair, which is a protected use in the Metro Charter."[25] The suit was dismissed by the same judge, Ellen Hobbs Lyle, a few days later.[26] The TSFA planned to take the case to the Tennessee Supreme Court,[26] but on February 19, 2019 they decided to settle out of court and hope for a meeting with the Metropolitan Council.[27]

Design

The stadium is being designed by Populous, a firm in Kansas City that had also designed venues for other MLS clubs.[28] It will seat 30,000 people, making it the largest soccer-specific stadium in North America, and include six lounges and "two dozen" box suites. A dedicated entry gate for the supporters group will be located on the north side.[8]

References
  1. https://twitter.com/NashvilleSC/status/1285938051202588675
  2. Ammenheuser, David (December 8, 2017). "Who's paying for Nashville's MLS stadium? What to know about quarter-billion project". The Tennessean. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  3. Knutson, Jesse (December 21, 2017). "What Are The Next Steps For The MLS Stadium?". WTVF. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  4. Garrison, Joey (November 5, 2017). "Nearing Nashville MLS stadium vote, John Ingram makes final case for private development plan". The Tennessean. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  5. Jeong, Yihyun (February 18, 2019). "Nashville's fairgrounds construction budget increases by $5 million to meet 'aggressive schedule'". The Tennessean. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  6. De Lombaerde, Geert (June 12, 2018). "Fair board OKs revised Fairgrounds plan". Nashville Post. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  7. Rau, Nate; Garrison, Joey (December 19, 2018). "Track operator strikes deal with Speedway Motorsports to return NASCAR to Nashville". The Tennessean. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  8. Rau, Nate (August 22, 2019). "Nashville MLS stadium costs rising, but taxpayers won't be on the hook". The Tennessean. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  9. Jeong, Yihyun (July 19, 2019). "Save Our Fairgrounds group wins appeal, lower court must again address concerns over MLS stadium". The Tennessean. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  10. Hance, Mary (August 23, 2019). "Nashville Flea Market finishes 50-year-run before moving to new fairgrounds location". The Tennessean. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  11. Jeong, Yihyun (August 2, 2019). "Metro Council to consider halt on Nashville fairgrounds demolition for MLS stadium". The Tennessean. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  12. Jeong, Yihyun (August 21, 2019). "Halt on Nashville fairgrounds demolition for MLS stadium rejected". The Tennessean. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  13. Garrison, Joey; Organ, Mike (December 20, 2017). "MLS grants Nashville expansion club, propelling Music City from underdog to 'soccer city'". The Tennessean. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  14. Crow, Mandy (March 29, 2019). "Trevecca to add football to athletics program in 2021". Trevecca Nazarene University. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  15. "Sources: Cooper, team strike soccer stadium deal". Nashville Post. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  16. Jeong, Yihyun. "What is 'parcel 8C'? The sticking point at the center of Nashville's MLS stadium delays". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  17. "Nashville SC offered to pay more for stadium, mayor still refused deal". WTVF. 2020-01-31. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  18. Jeong, Yihyun. "Mayor John Cooper, Nashville SC reach new agreement on MLS stadium at Nashville fairgrounds". The Tennessean. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  19. Sigal, Jonathan (March 16, 2020). "Nashville SC begin demolition at fairgrounds site for soccer-specific stadium". MLS Soccer.
  20. Butler, Dylan (April 9, 2020). "Nashville SC stadium site demolition "progressing steadily and in a timely fashion"". MLS Soccer.
  21. Garrison, Joey (November 29, 2017). "Nashville sued over Major League Soccer stadium plans for fairgrounds". The Tennessean. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  22. Garrison, Joey (December 18, 2017). "Nashville judge dismisses MLS stadium lawsuit, a win for expansion hopes". The Tennessean. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  23. "Judge throws out lawsuit to block Nashville soccer stadium". The Charlotte Observer. December 19, 2017. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  24. McDonald, Hannah (January 19, 2019). "Group files lawsuit against construction of Nashville's MLS stadium". News Channel 5. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  25. Garrison, Joey (January 18, 2019). "Tennessee congressman's state fair group sues Nashville seeking to stop MLS stadium". The Tennessean. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  26. Gill, Joey; Amons, Nancy (January 24, 2019). "Judge dismisses lawsuit to halt construction of MLS stadium at fairgrounds". WSMV Nashville.
  27. Tamburin, Adam (February 20, 2019). "Tennessee State Fair Association withdraws suit against Nashville MLS stadium construction". The Tennessean. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  28. Garrison, Joey (June 21, 2018). "Nashville nears $12M contract with firm to design MLS stadium at fairgrounds". The Tennessean. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
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