MUSIC CITY CENTER RELEASES EXPANSION STUDY RESULTS

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Music City Center President and Chief Executive Officer Charles Starks announced today the results of a feasibility study for expanding the convention center. Data collected during the nine-month study supports expansion.

HVS Convention, Sports & Entertainment, a leading global hospitality and consulting services firm, presented the results to the Convention Center Authority on Thursday.

“In the 30 years that I’ve been working, studying convention centers’ development and expansion, I’ve never seen a more compelling case for expansion,” said Thomas Hazinski, HVS Managing Director.

HVS was awarded a contract in September 2024 to evaluate the need and feasibility of expanding the current facility. The scope of the study included analysis and review of market trends, competitive facilities, historical performance, and user perspective.

The study found that among fifteen comparable venues, including Austin, New Orleans, and Orlando, MCC ranks below average for function space square footage. Additionally, most top-tier facilities have expansion or renovation projects recently completed, underway, or planned, creating a larger gap between the downtown Nashville convention center and its competitors.

Lost business was also highlighted in the study. Between fiscal years 2023 and 2024, over 45% of events could not be booked at MCC because of space limitations and availability constraints. Feedback from a Customer Advisory Board and a survey of current and prospective planners showed limited available space threatens future business.

“The results hold true to what we’ve seen in recent years,” Starks said. “Despite being a destination for meetings and events, we simply don’t have the space to accommodate every group, and we’re turning away business daily.”

Overall, the study recommended expansion by an additional 300,000 square feet of exhibit, ballroom, and meeting space. Including necessary operational space, the total recommended expansion is 587,000 square feet.

“There is much more work to be done,” added Starks, “but the potential for expansion would improve our competitive positioning, as well as the impact on our community.”

Since opening in May 2013, MCC has hosted 2,654 events, including 544 local nonprofit events, with 5.1 million attendees. That equates to $4.4 billion in direct economic impact for the greater Nashville area.

The study results released Thursday are the first step toward possible expansion. Next steps include site selection and building planning, followed by a secondary phase for financial and impact analysis. A timeline for the additional work has not been set.

About Music City Center

Located in the heart of downtown Nashville, Music City Center is a 2.1 million square foot convention center with more than 353,000 square feet of exhibit hall space, two ballrooms, 55 meeting rooms, and a covered parking garage with 1,800 spaces. The mission of MCC is to create significant economic benefit for the greater Nashville area, while focusing on community inclusion, sustainability, and exceptional customer service, through conventions, trade shows, and community events.