A recent impasse could delay a scheduled spring 2022 opening for a new Nashville SC stadium, though the exact timeline for the project remains unknown.
Nashville SC at one point expected to spend the 2020 and 2021 MLS seasons at Nissan Stadium, before opening a new stadium at The Fairgrounds Nashville. That was before a recent impasse in planning the project, however, as Nashville mayor John Cooper assumed office in October and held off for months on launching needed demolition work at the new stadium site. After considerable back and forth, Cooper and Nashville SC announced an agreement last week that allows the stadium plans to move forward, which came after the two sides worked out amendments to the project.
Although the agreement allows the demolition process to proceed, there is work that has to be done at the site before the buildings can actually come down. Additionally, planning will have to resume on design work for roads and bridges. With those factors in mind, project officials are starting to rework the timetables for completing the stadium, but an exact opening date has not been determined. More from WSMV.com:
The project manager representing the Sports Authority, Ron Gobbell, told the board Thursday that “they are beginning to revise schedules” for completion of the facility.
The opening date was initially in May of 2021, then the date was moved to “early” 2022, and Thursday, project managers said the date is being “reevaluated,” and said it would open “sometime” in 2022.
It will take four months to demolish the existing fairgrounds buildings, including an asbestos removal project….
The soccer team sent a statement saying: “There is no question the delays in stadium construction have affected the timeline. but at this point there is no way to know exactly how much. we are working with the stadium project team and will share more as we get closer.”
Nashville SC begins MLS play in 2020 as an expansion club, with the team to host Atlanta United FC on February 29 to begin its inaugural MLS season.
Rendering courtesy Nashville SC.
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