Soccer in Nashville

[PaulChinetti]

That would be quite the location. 

The August 1st meeting should be a big deciding factor, I know the pro side is planning a big presense and I have to imagine the anti side will be too. Should be a hell of a meeting.

Edited July 25, 2018 by PaulChinetti
Spelling

[titanhog]

The more I read about this, the more I realize how foolish it was for Mayor Barry and staff to choose the fairgrounds.  First of all...the fight they should have known they would have on their hands.  Secondly...to just throw in a huge soccer stadium, 10 acre mixed use buildings and additional public soccer fields ON TOP OF what's already there and appease EVERYONE is basically a utopian fairytale.

Surely there was a better option?

[Pdt2f]

1 minute ago, titanhog said:

The more I read about this, the more I realize how foolish it was for Mayor Barry and staff to choose the fairgrounds.  First of all...the fight they should have known they would have on their hands.  Secondly...to just throw in a huge soccer stadium, 10 acre mixed use buildings and additional public soccer fields ON TOP OF what's already there and appease EVERYONE is basically a utopian fairytale.

Surely there was a better option?

Decision-making wasn’t her forte. 

[titanhog]

Just now, Pdt2f said:

Decision-making wasn’t her forte. 

Seriously.  Thing is, she could have been a successful mayor...but she obviously didn't have foresight.   Sleeps with her city-hired bodyguard.  Overshoots on transit proposal.  Decides to place our MLS stadium at a site that has been a political battleground for decades.

[Pdt2f]

4 minutes ago, titanhog said:

Seriously.  Thing is, she could have been a successful mayor...but she obviously didn't have foresight.   Sleeps with her city-hired bodyguard.  Overshoots on transit proposal.  Decides to place our MLS stadium at a site that has been a political battleground for decades.

Plus the whole Metro General in-patient fiasco immediately before she was going to ask the people that hospital benefits to vote on her $5.4 billion transit plan. 

[PaulChinetti]

What other area could it have been? 

I think they were ready for the fight. Then she got caught and the people who took over had to get elected instead of focusing on it. I still say it has a decent chance. 

[nashvylle]

From MLS2Nashville: 

We have never been closer to Major League Soccer in Nashville, but our work is not done. We need you as a fan to make your voice heard with Metro Nashville government to ensure our team’s stadium is built. We have counted on your loyal support up to this point and moving forward we must keep up the fight. We need you to complete TWO TASKS:
 

1) CLICK HERE to write your Council Member and the members of the Metro Planning Commission that you support the stadium.

2) Attend the Metro Planning Commission meeting August 1^st when 10 acres of the Fairgrounds land will be up for rezoning. Facebook event link: August 1^st- Planning Commission (4pm, Howard Office Building, 700 Second Avenue South Nashville, TN 37210 - Sonny West Conference Room) 

August 1^st is coming up quick and the Planning Commission will consider re-zoning a portion of the property as part of the stadium project. We need you, and the tens of thousands of soccer fans in middle Tennessee, to pack that room and tell them how much this team means to you and this region.


To learn more about what is left on our path to building the stadium CLICK HERE. 


See you August 1^st,
 

MLS2Nashville 

[PaulChinetti]

Finally! I don’t know why the waited so long. 

[titanhog]

42 minutes ago, PaulChinetti said:

What other area could it have been? 

I think they were ready for the fight. Then she got caught and the people who took over had to get elected instead of focusing on it. I still say it has a decent chance. 

I don't know where else it could have gone...but the fairgrounds has never been the perfect place (somewhere within the loop would have been ideal if someone could have made that work out).  And it's not so much about location as it is the history of that place and the almost Hatfield & McCoy's type bickering that's gone on for years over that race track...the fair...and the flea market.   Barry isn't the first politician that's tried to do something with that parcel of land and have to fight the crazies.

If this stadium gets built there...I do think it will be a great addition to the area and the people opposed will eventually accept it.  But...I sure wish we could have found something within the loop.  Heck...any of those places that Mark Hollin mentioned in the MLB thread would have been nice.  And...with a billionaire in charge...I'm sure he could have made something work on one of those pieces of land.

[Jamie Hall]

4 hours ago, titanhog said:

Secondly...to just throw in a huge soccer stadium, 10 acre mixed use buildings and additional public soccer fields ON TOP OF what's already there

The fairgrounds wasn't my favorite site, but in regards to "on top of what's already there" ... I've been to several events at the fairgrounds, and as best I can tell, there's not much else there. Yes, there's a racetrack that's used just a few times a year. There are crumbling buildings used for a monthly flea market and occasional roller-derby and wrestling events. But mostly, there are big, empty parking lots that do nothing but occasionally collect water.

The fairgrounds has a great history and should be a vibrant part of the city, but it hasn't been in a long time. Even though I'm concerned about the traffic that MLS games will create, it shouldn't be any worse than the traffic around Bridgestone after a concert, or around Nissan Stadium after a Titans game. 

Downtown doesn't need another economic boost. Mostly, the inner loop doesn't, either. But the fairgrounds does, and there's a decent chance that this project will be it.

[titanhog]

3 minutes ago, Jamie Hall said:

The fairgrounds wasn't my favorite site, but in regards to "on top of what's already there" ... I've been to several events at the fairgrounds, and as best I can tell, there's not much else there.

Here's the issue:  On this acreage, the way it is being proposed...you will have:

1. Race track

2. Flea Market Buildings

3. Public park / soccer fields

4. MLS Stadium

5. 10 acres of Mixed use buildings (office, retail, residential)

6. State Fair

7. Parking (for MLS, Race Track, Flea Market, Mixed Use)

Now...you would think that 117 acres would be enough for all of this...but when you throw in a Race Track (which is WAY bigger than the MLS stadium and can not be moved and situated to a more suitable location on the lot) and a MLS stadium...things get tricky...especially considering that a lot of land is taken up by the soccer fields / park.  If they could turn the soccer fields into parking, that would make things easier.

If they can make it all fit appropriately...it could turn out to be an awesome place.  But the parking issue is a real one.

Btw...what's the reasoning of why they didn't just place the MLS stadium and mixed use buildings over where they're locating the flea market buildings?  Seems like the easier fix and wouldn't have had to tear anything down?  Also seems like a similar sized footprint.

[nashvylle]

@titanhog the fair park will be also used as parking. 

The reason for the flea market being placed there is so they can construct it and the flea market vendors can operate in the existing buildings until the new buildings are completed. 

[PaulChinetti]

Yup they changed it so that the Flea Market wouldn’t be closed for 2 years while it’s under construction. 

[titanhog]

2 minutes ago, PaulChinetti said:

Yup they changed it so that the Flea Market wouldn’t be closed for 2 years while it’s under construction. 

So does that mean they can't knock down the current flea market buildings until they build the new buildings...meaning they can't start on the stadium until after all of that is done?

[nashvylle]

Not sure on timing, but they will play at Nissan while the stadium is under construction 

[PaulChinetti]

59 minutes ago, titanhog said:

So does that mean they can't knock down the current flea market buildings until they build the new buildings...meaning they can't start on the stadium until after all of that is done?

No the new buildings would be finished. Then the stadium would start. Move in date for the team would be 2021.   

Nothing is finalized obviously but that’s how I understood it. 

[Bos2Nash]

On 7/24/2018 at 9:08 PM, titanhog said:

Here's the issue:  On this acreage, the way it is being proposed...you will have:

1. Race track

2. Flea Market Buildings

3. Public park / soccer fields

4. MLS Stadium

5. 10 acres of Mixed use buildings (office, retail, residential)

6. State Fair

7. Parking (for MLS, Race Track, Flea Market, Mixed Use)

Now...you would think that 117 acres would be enough for all of this...but when you throw in a Race Track (which is WAY bigger than the MLS stadium and can not be moved and situated to a more suitable location on the lot) and a MLS stadium...things get tricky...especially considering that a lot of land is taken up by the soccer fields / park.  If they could turn the soccer fields into parking, that would make things easier.

If they can make it all fit appropriately...it could turn out to be an awesome place.  But the parking issue is a real one.

Btw...what's the reasoning of why they didn't just place the MLS stadium and mixed use buildings over where they're locating the flea market buildings?  Seems like the easier fix and wouldn't have had to tear anything down?  Also seems like a similar sized footprint.

Just as a polite reminder WE LIVE IN A CITY!! Land and space will -- and for the most part always -- be hard to come by because a city will always grow and densify and as we use up more and more of the inner city land, our cities will expand to the outer portions of the limits. The flea market are is a destitute to the city as it currently sits on the site, because those buildings are remarkably inefficient, old and crumbling and quite honestly need to be replaced. I also believe this site was picked as it was situated on a main spur of the proposed transit plan. When we finally get a transit system beyond just buses that takes people out of the car, this area will be a destination in terms where transit should go. The stadium, combined with the constant tax revenue of the mixed use and the potential for other events to be held at the flea market buildings is an amazing opportunity for the city as a whole

I find the idea of creating a new urban development around a racetrack/sport development is an interesting concept. My biggest concern about all this development though (which never clicked for me) is what happens when people are living in these mixed use developments and then they decide to complain about the racetrack being loud? How long until the residents line up and petition to close the racetrack? That would a heartbreak for the area.

[PaulChinetti]

1 minute ago, Bos2Nash said:

I find the idea of creating a new urban development around a racetrack/sport development is an interesting concept. My biggest concern about all this development though (which never clicked for me) is what happens when people are living in these mixed use developments and then they decide to complain about the racetrack being loud? How long until the residents line up and petition to close the racetrack? That would a heartbreak for the area.

That was one of the smaller points that was brought up in a meeting. I think it will definitely be a interesting and unique area, possibly even bringing in new fans to the track. I think they could appease some of the anti-crowd if they extended the racetracks lease. They just signed a new 5 year lease. Extend it out to 15-25 years and that will give it a home for an extended period. If it closes down before then so be it. But it gives the race crowd a solid home that they can continue to build on.

[PaulChinetti]

https://www.nashville.gov/document/ID/c38c0241-38a0-4f16-9689-fc546fcccce1/August-1-2018-comments-received-July-25.pdf

https://www.nashville.gov/document/ID/2537ddbe-7f5f-4c80-88b5-36c97b77d0cc/August-1-2018-comments-received-through-July-25.pdf

Metro has posted the comments they have received so far. Lots of positive comments and then a big petition from the Venders.

"incress crime" is my favorite. 

Edited July 27, 2018 by PaulChinetti

[nashvylle]

Thanks for sending. Hopefully the Planning Commission sees that the vast majority of the people living in the area are supportive, and the flea market vendors not only don't live in Wedgewood Houston but also Nashville. 

[titanhog]

5 hours ago, Bos2Nash said:

Just as a polite reminder WE LIVE IN A CITY!! Land and space will -- and for the most part always -- be hard to come by because a city will always grow and densify and as we use up more and more of the inner city land, our cities will expand to the outer portions of the limits. The flea market are is a destitute to the city as it currently sits on the site, because those buildings are remarkably inefficient, old and crumbling and quite honestly need to be replaced. I also believe this site was picked as it was situated on a main spur of the proposed transit plan. When we finally get a transit system beyond just buses that takes people out of the car, this area will be a destination in terms where transit should go. The stadium, combined with the constant tax revenue of the mixed use and the potential for other events to be held at the flea market buildings is an amazing opportunity for the city as a whole

I find the idea of creating a new urban development around a racetrack/sport development is an interesting concept. My biggest concern about all this development though (which never clicked for me) is what happens when people are living in these mixed use developments and then they decide to complain about the racetrack being loud? How long until the residents line up and petition to close the racetrack? That would a heartbreak for the area.

OK!!  (just yelling back) 

[nashvylle]

From BBC: How do you start a team from scratch? Ian Ayre report.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44945728

 

[Rockatansky]

15 hours ago, PaulChinetti said:

https://www.nashville.gov/document/ID/c38c0241-38a0-4f16-9689-fc546fcccce1/August-1-2018-comments-received-July-25.pdf

https://www.nashville.gov/document/ID/2537ddbe-7f5f-4c80-88b5-36c97b77d0cc/August-1-2018-comments-received-through-July-25.pdf

Metro has posted the comments they have received so far. Lots of positive comments and then a big petition from the Venders.

"incress crime" is my favorite. 

2/3's of the signatures on one of the petitions gave the Fairgrounds as their address. My guess is none of them live in Davidson.

Edited July 27, 2018 by Rockatansky

[nashvylle]

22 minutes ago, Rockatansky said:

2/3's of the signatures on one of the petitions gave the Fairgrounds as their address. My guess is none of them live in Davidson.

Exactly.  I pray the commission notices that. 

Also, the referendum in 2011 was to keep the existing uses, not a referendum on anything else being added to the fairgrounds. 

[PaulChinetti]

Yeah, that gets brought up constantly. The referendum, the referendum. It doesn't say that the Fairgrounds can never change. Just that it always has to have it's current uses. I think some people just interpret that as it will never change ever.