This sports surge began in the 1990s with the construction of Nissan Stadium and Bridgestone Arena, both located in the downtown area. In addition to bringing professional football and hockey to Nashville, these facilities enabled the city to attract major national events, including NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournament games and the NHL All-Star Game.

And because of their proximity to downtown hotels and Nashville’s iconic music entertainment district, the facilities helped create a college-campus type of environment that entices both visitors and local fans.