MLS In Nashville: Stadium Plans Unveiled

NASHVILLE, TN — As Nashville continues its push to secure a Major League Soccer expansion franchise, leaders of the bid revealed preliminary renderings for a 30,000-seat soccer-specific stadium at the Fairgrounds Nashville Monday.

"Having a stadium that is approved by MLS is an absolutely essential part of ultimately being successful," John Ingram, Nashville Soccer Club Holdings chairman, told the Metro Council at a special committee meeting. "We've tried to put together something that we believe represents a great partnership between our MLS-in-Nashville group and the city."

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There's not yet a cost figure for the stadium, nor is there a financing plan for the project, which is proposed for the west side of the fairgrounds, south of Wedgewood, between the speedway and Bransford Avenue. The renderings were prepared by sports facility architectural giant HOK.

The 500,000 square-foot stadium would be ringed by other buildings, which would replace fairgrounds structures that would have to be demolished to give way for the new project. A Metro Charter amendment approved by voters in 2011 requires that existing activities at the fairgrounds be maintained.

Though the facility would primarily be used for soccer, it would have the ability to be converted for other civic and sporting events.

Monday's presentation was the first formal meeting between MLS backers and the Metro Council, which would have final approval over any financing plan and the lease for the stadium. Mayor Megan Barry has said that she is looking for a private-public partnership with the emphasis on the private. Ingram, who earlier this year took the reins of United Soccer League franchise Nashville SC, is the CEO of Ingram Industries, a multi-billion dollar company.

At 30,000, the stadium would be on the high end of capacity for MLS stadia. Some teams play some or all of their games at current or former NFL stadiums, while Toronto FC shares its 30,000-seat BMO Stadium with the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts. Orlando City FC debuted its 25,500-seat stadium this year at a cost of $155 million. That stadium was built without civic money.

Nashville is one of 12 cities vying for four MLS expansion spots, two of which are expected to be announced in December. With high attendance at international matches at the Tennessee Titans' Nissan Stadium and stadium difficulties in other leading candidate cities such as St. Louis, Nashville is seen as one of the leading contenders.

Images via HOK/Nashville Soccer Club Holdings