What Others are Saying Behind-the-scenes tour of the current facility (video) Funding Mechanisms Completed Speaking Engagements Campaign Facts The cost of doing nothing What others are saying FAQ “We have had record setting conventions in Nashville and have been to the Music City four times with great attendee satisfaction. Our organization is a music service organization and a natural fit with the established identity of Nashville. On the other hand, we began running out of room in 2001, really felt it in 2004 with a full exhibit hall and well over 6,000 attendees, and cancelled 2007 because of space limitations.” Michael Kenyon, Executive Director of the Percussive Arts Society “Regrettably, due to the growth of our association, this is the last time we will be able to use the city of Nashville to host our Annual Meeting and Exposition for the foreseeable future. We are unable to consider Nashville as a future site due to the lack of an adequate Convention Center and full service hotels.” Russell McKinnon, CAE, Director of Meetings and Events, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association “…the Deere and Company Aftermarket Expo has outgrown Nashville’s downtown Convention Center and hotels… We need a minimum of 160,000 square feet, plus a ballroom that will seat and feed 3,000 people, a general assembly area to seat 3,000 people and multiple breakouts (rooms) that can hold up to 200-300 people.” Dean Hungate, Deere and Company “ASHE conducts two major conferences of approximately 3,000 attendees per conference with as economic impact of $1,350 per attendee. These conferences are growing yearly and we have simply grown out of Nashville. Specifically, we will need more conference (exhibit) floor and large ballroom space than you are presently able to provide in the city. I realize that Opryland has adequate space, but I favor downtown with its music history and venues that are unique in the United States.” Dr. Albert Sunseri, Executive Director, American Society of Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) of the American Hospital Association “We would love nothing more than to hold future EMS EXPO shows in Nashville, unfortunately, the size of the current convention center will make that difficult.” David Caplin, Director of Exhibitions and Special Projects, EMS Productions, Inc. “Recently National PTA (previously Parent Teachers Association) considered Nashville as a site for its 2009 convention. The result of our site selection for this event is Ft. Lauderdale. There is one important reason why we did not select Nashville - the Convention Center. I had never visited downtown Nashville before our site visit but was pleasantly surprised by all it had to offer. I was equally disappointed in the quality of the convention center. It needs to be bigger, brighter and look more up to date. A city that is as attractive and alive as Nashville deserves a center that reflects this vitality. We will certainly bring smaller meetings to Nashville in the future, but I am sure as long as the center remains as is, your competition will continue to outshine your gem of a city.” Vicki Loise, CMP, Meetings Director, National PTA “With a population of a million and a half people, an international airport, world class colleges, universities and medical facilities, a terrific hospitality community, an NFL franchise, an NHL franchise, a large federal government and state government workforce, an influential corporate presence, a substantial faith-based community, top notch entertainment, and great climate and geography, clearly Nashville has much going for it as a destination. What it doesn’t have is an adequate convention center. So, get on with it will you? Help make it easier for folks like me to say yes to Nashville.” Jeffry Raynes, CAE, APICS The Educational Society for Resource Management “We used your convention facilities for our 2003 and 2004 Shows and had a wonderful experience in Nashville. However, due to the limited space in the convention center and a rapidly growing show, the World of Asphalt Show and conference had to look to other cities with larger facilities for future shows.” Megan Tanel, Show Manager, World of Asphalt