Legislation Filed to Give Nashville Help With MLS Bid

NASHVILLE, TN — State Sen. Steve Dickerson, a Nashville Republican, has filed legislation that would help Nashville build a stadium to draw a Major League Soccer team to the city.

Nashville was announced as one of ten cities with interest in joining U.S.'s top soccer league when it adds two teams in 2020 and two more teams at some future date. Though it has granted some exceptions — particularly to cities with established and popular soccer teams — the MLS prefers its teams play in a purpose-built soccer-specific stadium, which Nashville lacks.

Dickerson's bill, which will be taken up when the General Assembly convenes next month, would earmark the state portion of sales tax revenue generated at the stadium to Metro government to pay for the bonds required to build the stadium. It would include sales taxes collected on tickets, concessions and parking. This is the same system used by the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators, as well as the Memphis Grizzlies.

Dickerson told The Tennessean he was approached by Bill Hagerty, the powerful Nashville businessman and Republican power player who leads the coalition to bring the MLS to the Music City, to spearhead the legislation, oddly enough while the two were watching a youth soccer game.

“I’ve drunk the Kool-Aid as far as soccer goes,” Dickerson told the newspaper, pointing out the popularity of the sport among young people and the area's growing immigrant population.

The MLS will require a $150 million expansion fee for the 2020 teams and Hagerty has estimated a stadium will cost $200 million.