Geodis Park,[2] known during development and construction as Nashville SC Stadium and Nashville Fairgrounds Stadium,[3] is a 30,109-seat soccer-specific stadium at the historic Nashville Fairgrounds in Nashville, Tennessee. It is the home of Major League Soccer club Nashville SC. The stadium opened on May 1, 2022, with Nashville SC hosting the Philadelphia Union in the stadium's inaugural match.[4] The stadium will be one of twelve venues to host the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.[5]
The Castle El Dorado | |
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.jpg) Geodis Park in 2022 | |
  Geodis Park Location in Nashville  Geodis Park Location in Tennessee  Geodis Park Location in the United States | |
| Former names | Nashville Fairgrounds Stadium (working title) Nashville SC Stadium (placeholder name) |
|---|---|
| Address | 501 Benton Ave |
| Location | Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 36°07′48.3″N 86°45′57.6″W / 36.130083°N 86.766000°W |
| Owner | Metro Nashville |
| Operator | Nashville SC |
| Type | Soccer-specific stadium |
| Capacity | 30,109 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | July 22, 2020[1] |
| Opened | May 1, 2022 |
| Architect | Populous |
| General contractor | Mortenson Messer |
| Tenants | |
| Nashville SC (MLS) (2022–present) | |
| Website | |
| geodispark.com | |
Construction
editIn December 2016, the construction was expected to cost $275 million.[6] 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."[6] Additionally, the Nashville Fairgrounds would be renovated for an additional $40 million.[7]
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.[8]
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.[9]
The stadium is part of a re-development project at the fairgrounds site that also includes a relocated Expo event space, new mixed-use retail and residential buildings and an upgraded Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway capable of hosting NASCAR Cup Series events.[10][11]
By February 2019, its construction had been delayed and its budget had increased.[9] The original builder, Ely Concrete, abandoned the project and they were replaced by TRC Construction Services.[9] 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.[12]
As of July 2019, an exposition center was under construction for the State Fair.[13] By August 23, the fair was expected to be held on September 6–15 "in the old fairgrounds space."[14]
A resolution to stop the demolition of buildings and make way for the stadium was introduced by council member Steve Glover on August 2,[15] but it was voted down on August 21.[16]
Nashville SC was originally supposed to start playing in the stadium in 2020,[17] but by 2019 it had been delayed to 2022.[13]
Revised stadium deal and construction
editOn 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 would fund 100 percent of the stadium's construction costs on the Fairgrounds site. This would 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 agreed to a total of $54 million in additional payments.[18]
In addition to the aforementioned monetary agreements of the deal, the team and the city came to an agreement on the parcel of land titled 8C which is about 2.4 acres in size and located between the stadium and the Fairgrounds Speedway.[19] 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."[20] Ultimately, the deal reached between the city and the team on February 13 stated that the piece of land would be made into a mixed-use open plaza that will allow space for future Fairgrounds and Speedway activities and uses.[21]
On March 16, 2020, demolition on the fairgrounds site began.[22] 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.[23]
On March 10, 2022, a long-term sponsorship deal with Geodis, whose North American headquarters are based in nearby Brentwood, was announced, renaming the stadium to Geodis Park.[24][25]
Lawsuits
editIn 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.[26] The lawsuit was dismissed by Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle in December 2017.[27][28] The dismissal was overturned by the Tennessee Court of Appeals in July 2019 to address the duties of the Fair Board and their ability to collect taxes on fairground activities.[13]
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.[29] 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."[30] The suit was dismissed by the same judge, Ellen Hobbs Lyle, a few days later.[31] The TSFA planned to take the case to the Tennessee Supreme Court,[31] but on February 19, 2019, they decided to settle out of court and hope for a meeting with the Metropolitan Council.[32]
Design
editThe stadium was designed by Populous, a firm in Kansas City that had also designed venues for other MLS clubs.[33] The facility seats 30,000 people, making it the largest soccer-specific stadium in the United States or Canada.[34] It includes six lounges, two dozen box suites, and a dedicated entry gate for the supporters group located on the north side.[12]
Transportation
editGeodis Park has 11 official parking lots around the Fairgrounds used for Nashville SC matches, which require a pre-paid pass. Several lots are paved, while others have gravel and grass surfaces; the stadium also has a ride-hailing lot. The WeGo Public Transit system has two bus stops near Geodis Park but does not run special late night services for matches.[35]
International matches
editMen's matches
edit| Date | Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | Tournament | Spectators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 17, 2023 |  United States
|
4–0 |  Ghana
|
Friendly | 18,468 |
Women's matches
edit| Date | Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | Tournament | Spectators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 19, 2023 | United States
|
1–0 |  Japan
|
2023 SheBelieves Cup | 25,471 |
 Canada
|
2–0 |  Brazil
|
6,502 | ||
| October 27, 2024 | United States
|
3–1 |  Iceland
|
Friendly | 17,018 |
Concerts and events
editGeodis Park also serves as a major concert venue.
| Date | Artist | Opening Act(s) | Tour / Concert Name | Attendance | Revenue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 7, 2023 | Shania Twain | Kelsea Ballerini Breland |
Queen of Me Tour | 27,707 / 27,707 | $3,606,876 | First concert to be held at the stadium. |
| August 26, 2023 | Guns N' Roses | Carrie Underwood | Guns N' Roses 2023 Tour | 23,594 / 23,594 | $3,484,912 | - |
| September 22, 2023 | P!nk | Brandi Carlile Grouplove KidCutUp |
Summer Carnival | 28,382 / 28,382 | $5,906,419 | - |
| August 30, 2024 | Green Day | The Smashing Pumpkins Rancid The Linda Lindas |
The Saviors Tour | TBA | TBA | - |
References
edit- ^ @NashvilleSC (July 22, 2020). "Our home is on its way. Metro Council..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Front Office Sports [@FOS] (March 10, 2022). "In May, Nashville SC will open the largest soccer-specific stadium in the country. Now, it has a name: Geodis Park" (Tweet). Retrieved March 10, 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Stadium". Nashville SC. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
- ^ "Nashville Soccer Club to Open Nashville SC Stadium on May 1, 2022, in the Venue's Inaugural MLS Match". Nashville Soccer Club. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
- ^ Wright, Ben (September 28, 2024). "Nashville's Geodis Park named host venue for 2025 FIFA Club World Cup". Broadway Sports Media. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ Knutson, Jesse (December 21, 2017). "What Are The Next Steps For The MLS Stadium?". WTVF. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c Jeong, Yihyun (February 18, 2019). "Nashville's fairgrounds construction budget increases by $5 million to meet 'aggressive schedule'". The Tennessean. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
- ^ De Lombaerde, Geert (June 12, 2018). "Fair board OKs revised Fairgrounds plan". Nashville Post. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Rau, Nate (August 22, 2019). "Nashville MLS stadium costs rising, but taxpayers won't be on the hook". The Tennessean. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ Hance, Mary (August 23, 2019). "Nashville Flea Market finishes 50-year-run before moving to new fairgrounds location". The Tennessean. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
- ^ Jeong, Yihyun (August 2, 2019). "Metro Council to consider halt on Nashville fairgrounds demolition for MLS stadium". The Tennessean. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
- ^ Jeong, Yihyun (August 21, 2019). "Halt on Nashville fairgrounds demolition for MLS stadium rejected". The Tennessean. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Sources: Cooper, team strike soccer stadium deal". Nashville Post. February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
- ^ Jeong, Yihyun. "What is 'parcel 8C'? The sticking point at the center of Nashville's MLS stadium delays". USA TODAY. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
- ^ "Nashville SC offered to pay more for stadium, mayor still refused deal". WTVF. January 31, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
- ^ Jeong, Yihyun. "Mayor John Cooper, Nashville SC reach new agreement on MLS stadium at Nashville fairgrounds". The Tennessean. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
- ^ Sigal, Jonathan (March 16, 2020). "Nashville SC begin demolition at fairgrounds site for soccer-specific stadium". MLS Soccer.
- ^ Butler, Dylan (April 9, 2020). "Nashville SC stadium site demolition "progressing steadily and in a timely fashion"". MLS Soccer.
- ^ Hills, Drake (March 10, 2022). "Nashville SC to have largest soccer-specific stadium in U.S., Canada — and now it has a name". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
- ^ "Geodis gets naming rights to Nashville SC stadium". March 10, 2022.
- ^ Garrison, Joey (November 29, 2017). "Nashville sued over Major League Soccer stadium plans for fairgrounds". The Tennessean. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
- ^ Garrison, Joey (December 18, 2017). "Nashville judge dismisses MLS stadium lawsuit, a win for expansion hopes". The Tennessean. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
- ^ "Judge throws out lawsuit to block Nashville soccer stadium". The Charlotte Observer. December 19, 2017. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
- ^ McDonald, Hannah (January 19, 2019). "Group files lawsuit against construction of Nashville's MLS stadium". News Channel 5. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
- ^ Garrison, Joey (January 18, 2019). "Tennessee congressman's state fair group sues Nashville seeking to stop MLS stadium". The Tennessean. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
- ^ a b Gill, Joey; Amons, Nancy (January 24, 2019). "Judge dismisses lawsuit to halt construction of MLS stadium at fairgrounds". WSMV Nashville.
- ^ Tamburin, Adam (February 20, 2019). "Tennessee State Fair Association withdraws suit against Nashville MLS stadium construction". The Tennessean. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
- ^ Garrison, Joey (June 21, 2018). "Nashville nears $12M contract with firm to design MLS stadium at fairgrounds". The Tennessean. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
- ^ Maurer, Pablo (May 5, 2022). "Against all odds, Nashville SC's Geodis Park is 'authentically Nashville'". The Athletic. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
- ^ Fiscus, Kirsten (August 16, 2023). "What to know about parking for the Nashville SC vs. Inter Miami match". The Tennessean. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
External links
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