Geodis Park
Geodis Park,[2] known during development and construction as Nashville SC Stadium and Nashville Fairgrounds Stadium,[3] is a 30,000-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]
Former names
Nashville Fairgrounds Stadium (working title)
Nashville SC Stadium (placeholder name)
501 Benton Ave
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
30,000
Grass
July 22, 2020[1]
May 1, 2022
Mortenson Messer
Lawsuits[edit]
In 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.[25] The lawsuit was dismissed by Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle in December 2017.[26][27] 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.[12]
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.[28] 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."[29] The suit was dismissed by the same judge, Ellen Hobbs Lyle, a few days later.[30] The TSFA planned to take the case to the Tennessee Supreme Court,[30] but on February 19, 2019 they decided to settle out of court and hope for a meeting with the Metropolitan Council.[31]
Design[edit]
The stadium was designed by Populous, a firm in Kansas City that had also designed venues for other MLS clubs.[32] The facility seats 30,000 people, making it the largest soccer-specific stadium in the United States or Canada.[33] It includes six lounges, two dozen box suites, and a dedicated entry gate for the supporters group located on the north side.[11]
Transportation[edit]
Geodis 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.[34]
