Music City Baseball, the group bidding to bring Major League Baseball (MLB) to Nashville, has released renderings of a proposed sports and entertainment district, including a stadium with a retractable roof.
The development has been earmarked for the east side of the Cumberland River, between Korean Veterans Boulevard and Nissan Stadium, the home of the Tennessee Titans NFL American football franchise. The John Seigenthaler Bridge would direct pedestrians into the complex.
The renderings include concepts for a college baseball hall of fame and a mixed-use tower that will include residential space and a hotel.
“Many stadiums today are part of mixed-use environments and this is one possible option,” Music City Baseball managing director John Loar said. “We are currently looking at multiple options. Completing our objective to bring Major League Baseball to Nashville will be a long process. We’re in the very early stages of that process.”
Loar, who first revealed plans to bring an MLB franchise to Nashville in January, has assembled an advisory group in an effort to drive forward plans. The team would be called the Nashville Stars. According to the group’s website, the goal is to build the complex ahead of the 2024 MLB season, although it is acknowledged that it could cost at least $1bn (£817.5m/€916.3m) to secure a franchise in the city.
“Through a series of private offerings, Music City Baseball initially intends to raise more than $4.5m to cover operating expenses for the next three years,” the group stated on its website. “During this time, we intend to secure a major investor or assemble a group of investors who can cover the buy-in fee.”
The group has said it will not seek public money for the construction project, but does want to explore building on city-owned land. Other sites in Williamson and Rutherford counties have also been considered.
In a statement, Mayor John Cooper’s office told The Tennessean: “Mayor Cooper welcomes any and all ideas to be presented to the city. He has expressed tentative support for any project that is able to enhance the reputation of Nashville as well as generate positive net revenue while requiring no public funding.”
Images: Music City Baseball
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