SPORTS AND ATHLETIC FACILITIES

[BnaBreaker]

2 hours ago, markhollin said:

The WNBA has reiterated its interest in Nashville as an expansion market.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is "pretty confident" the league will expand to 16 teams by 2028 and that the goal is to “bring in a 14th team for 2026.”

The WNBA announced late last year it is adding a 13th team that will be “owned and operated” by the Warriors. It is the league's “first new franchise” since the  Atlanta Dream in 2008.

Engelbert said, "It's complex because you need the arena and practice facility and player housing and all the things you need, committed long-term ownership groups. And so, the nice thing is we're getting a lot of calls, we're continuing to engage with cities."Engelbert also mentioned that cities such as Philadelphia, Toronto, Portland, Denver and Nashville as well as South Florida as places the league is “in discussions with for potential expansion franchises.”

More at NBJ here:

https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2024/04/18/wnba-nashville-expansion-team-engelbert.html

I was under the impression that the league was still hemorrhaging money, so I'm surprised to see them going all in on expansion plans, but if it means Nashville could get a franchise then hey, I'm all for it!

[markhollin]

Special Olympics Tennessee is placing a bid forNashville to be the host city for the 2030 Special Olympics USA Games. 

After more than two years of exploring Nashville’s viability as a host city, Special Olympics Tennessee will submit a bid for the event by Oct. 1. 

“We want a full city takeover with activations to where it includes things like projections on sides of buildings, interactive events that are happening at Centennial Park and throughout downtown. We want to make it feel like an inclusive event, not be shut off from the city,” said Justin Bradford, director of marketing and communications for Special Olympics Tennessee. “We want people to feel like they’re involved without taking away from what they’re doing with their normal day to day as well.”

The event would likely be held the last week of June, with hopes that visitors would stay for July Fourth weekend.

It will primarily be at one of the city’s universities, with off-site events for sports that aren’t able to be played on campus. 

In the bid, Special Olympics Tennessee will provide two to three options for where each sport could feasibly be played, as well as where opening ceremonies could take place.

The Tennessee Titans, Nashville SC, Nashville Predators, Nashville Superspeedway and Nashville sounds have all endorsed the bid and are willing to help how they can.

The estimated price tag for a city to host the Special Olympics USA Games is between $28 and $35 million, coming from corporate, local and state funding. 

In 2026, the event will be held in Minnesota, drawing in 4,000 athletes, 1,500 coaches, 10,000 volunteers and 75,000 fans.

The estimated economic impact to a city hosting the Special Olympics is $100 million, said Justin Bradford, director of marketing and communications for Special Olympics Tennessee.

More at NBJ here:

https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2024/04/25/what-it-looks-likes-for-nashville-to-host-the-2030.html

[markhollin]

Vandy FirstBank Stadium update: more superstructure for south stands continues.

Looking north from Jess Neely Drive, 1/3 block east of Natchez Trace:

Looking NE from intersection of Jess Neely Dr. and Natchez Trace:

Looking east from 28th Ave, South, 1/8 block north of Vanderbilt Place:

[MLBrumby]

Thanks for posting! They’re not going to be done with any of that in time for Fb season. I don’t know why they didn’t phase in any of that… or better yet, build another stadium on the next block over and demolish that one! Vandy!!! [smh]

[Sean blackdog]

Last night. 
Nashville Kats is back. 

 

Beginning their third run in Nashville, the Kats opened the season Saturday night at Municipal Auditorium, defeating the Minnesota Myth 47-12 in front of an announced attendance of 5,704.

 

[21jump]

I would love to see this arena renovated into a state of the art "second arena" for the city and be able to host TSU hockey, a WNBA franchise, college basketball, and I guess arena football too. Would probably help bring even more shows to the city.