[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6114953,"mediaKeyId","2740708-29119143b03309cca2c99d397b5237f6","parentId",2740708,"title","SEC tournament draws record attendance; WNBA expansion bid update given to Sports Authority","audioSeconds",202,"startMs",1402000,"endMs",1604000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2740708-29119143b03309cca2c99d397b5237f6&start=1402&end=1604","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2740708-29119143b03309cca2c99d397b5237f6/thumbnail_1402000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6114953/Tennessee/SEC-tournament-draws-record-attendance-WNBA-expansion-bid-update-given-to-Sports-Authority","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6114953-6b975e3730967bd3e75a4dede275659a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770922895&Signature=dV-aFGQYzDwPD~z1KU2RsOROqvUyT7Q0DS5R0pEA-MMgosh3g1UKQ3tCFGN8xWTR6zs-9Wy9ugzbi~dM4AZolRxV0Tjhe8ycCa9fTy7Pn2SZfgq7nwQ6CwJNBUuJ-siDikczy6F0H~GNQjzWEzVov2Q7dkeIc5UiqZ~uQLmizN3nas8UxhYFV0L1U7Nh0xHsFY13vpQa53TSywHTKPTC6LwREXWTqcPQSYyYEbeq1eYmCJZ~zuwyBrZ7ph51ATqIuICzHNMr6W6HEQ2ucS37DcNfRA~wwTTtsyZ7ah1iVkg3V-zggumijSgSWn8O~a2k2lrWDnl2-SkOiyGqgzvLcw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Nashville, TN","date","2025-03-23T05:34:38.163Z","article","Bridgestone Arena and Sports Council representatives briefed the Sports Authority on the recent SEC men’s basketball tournament and on outreach around a possible WNBA expansion team in Nashville.

Kyle Clayton and John Cooper told the authority the SEC tournament “was fantastic” from a basketball and production standpoint: the event expanded to include Texas and Oklahoma, ran eight sessions from Wednesday through Sunday, set a record for attendance and featured the ESPN selection show on Bridgestone Arena Plaza — the first time ESPN broadcast that show live outside its studio, officials said.

Clayton said some tournament expenses — staffing, décor and hospitality — are reimbursed under an agreement using sales-tax-derived funds collected on the property. Because this year’s tournament added sessions, Bridgestone plans to present a proposal next month to increase the reimbursement amount; Clayton emphasized those costs are paid from the sales-tax waterfall tied to the property, not from Sports Authority general funds.

On the WNBA bid, Michelle Kennedy briefed the board on Nashville’s application to be considered for the WNBA’s sixteenth franchise. Kennedy said an ownership group led by Bill and Chrissy Haslam — joined by Peyton Manning, Candace Parker and others — submitted an application and is committed to bringing professional women’s basketball to Nashville. She noted that media reports have named other frontrunners (including Cleveland) but that no official announcement has been made by the league.

Why it matters: Tournament exposure and a competitive WNBA bid could raise Nashville’s profile as a host for major women’s sports and entertainment events, with implications for venue calendars, tourism and long-term sports development.

Officials said they expect additional activity in the coming months as reimbursement requests are finalized and as WNBA expansion decisions are announced by the league.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03/20/25 Sports Authority","oneSentenceSummary","Bridgestone Arena officials reported record attendance and national broadcast exposure for the SEC men’s basketball tournament, and city officials updated the Sports Authority on Nashville’s application to be considered for a WNBA expansion franchise.","taxTitle","Sports Authority Meetings, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee","taxId",77588,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6114958,"Sports Authority approves maintenance payment of up to $6,000 and fiscal year 2026 operating and capital budget",159,1161000,1320000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2740708-29119143b03309cca2c99d397b5237f6&start=1161&end=1320","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2740708-29119143b03309cca2c99d397b5237f6/thumbnail_1161000.jpg","/articles/6114958/Tennessee/Sports-Authority-approves-maintenance-payment-of-up-to-6000-and-fiscal-year-2026-operating-and-capital-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6114958-b6a459126f6b1cc86b8d5c33cec7e8cf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770922895&Signature=Wk6HTtyK13dtB4U7LMwQWJV-8Y3fOi4qfl8Blov~3ggv9UNelRPt3PG6uqR3KavnAjRq5l8fWgx1BBSFHVvTO8LQTXnIm1qybRmU1YDgbUJyCL1PylsMQH2DHySy2xY58e0gobPpy6ZxuZpGvRV8Bk40DUnJ7aYu-TFms~TwARem7k6JecNJtWDc5OKRzhd2qdRElGjZ5Yqxega31Hi-8KEE0KChu7WYP7oFQjBLcYFYw8aebQkfJ134d4GHFraF5Nfd7p8jOLYxi8jAAJEKupRnun2y8PRrsHsHqSc4fe6fz3XY4VNd86Jlc3KndJMr9D15EMS6hJRyySbW4Um42A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The authority’s finance committee recommended — and the full board approved — two resolutions during the meeting: one to fund seasonal upkeep of the bio-retention basin and green roof at First Horizon Park and one to adopt the Sports Authority’s fiscal year 2026 operating and capital budgets.

Chair Hogan told the board the authority has an MOU with Metro Water that acknowledges First Horizon Park maintenance is the Sports Authority’s responsibility, and the finance committee recommended approval of a request not to exceed $6,000 for 2025 maintenance costs. The motion was moved and seconded and the chair called the vote; the motion passed.

The board also considered the proposed FY26 operating and capital budgets. Finance reported the proposed budget would be largely status quo from FY25 with an adjustment to how office rent is accounted for (Metro finance will transfer rent dollars from an administrative account). The finance presentation described the proposed budget figure as \"$1,853,000\" (as reported during the meeting) and broke down major components: roughly $1.328 million for insurance, about 21% (approximately $396,000) for salaries for three positions funded by the general fund, and $206,000 funded from arena revenue for two finance positions. The finance committee recommended adoption; the motion was moved, seconded and approved.

Separately, the authority reviewed First Horizon Park capital improvement requests previously approved by the authority for submission to Metro Council’s 4% funds. Those FY26 requests included replacement of a dugout floor ($58,000), replacement of suite seat parts ($20,500), replacement of two HVAC units ($20,800) and roof repairs ($2,350). Finance noted the total 4% funding request amount as $101,657; the board approved moving forward with those items.

Why it matters: These approvals set the Sports Authority’s spending and capital priorities for the coming fiscal year and confirm continued maintenance responsibility at First Horizon Park under the Metro Water MOU.

Votes at a glance:
- Resolution: Approve expenditure (not to exceed $6,000) for seasonal upkeep of bio-retention basin and green roof at First Horizon Park — Passed (motion moved/seconded; roll call not recorded in transcript).
- Resolution: Adopt FY26 operating and capital budgets — Passed (motion moved/seconded; roll call not recorded in transcript).
- First Horizon Park 4% funding requests totaling $101,657 — Approved to proceed to Metro Council (motion moved/seconded; roll call not recorded in transcript).

The finance committee chair concluded his report; the meeting moved on to facility partners and construction updates.","The Sports Authority approved a resolution to pay up to $6,000 for seasonal upkeep of the bio-retention basin and green roof at First Horizon Park under an MOU with Metro Water, and adopted a proposed FY26 operating and capital budget and First Horizon Park 4% funding requests totaling about $101,657.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6114963,"Athletes Unlimited credits Nashville partnerships for successful debut, will return for two more seasons",520,44000,564000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2740708-29119143b03309cca2c99d397b5237f6&start=44&end=564","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2740708-29119143b03309cca2c99d397b5237f6/thumbnail_44000.jpg","/articles/6114963/Tennessee/Athletes-Unlimited-credits-Nashville-partnerships-for-successful-debut-will-return-for-two-more-seasons","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6114963-0a342c5f66c3f4755be3b2fab76289d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770922895&Signature=fjF0GYXNBFCwHwkZA06FJfDOYGG4Rc6KRa9Er7tZmkXfumySOxxLavkmBmGVaEt9HyW6lGnTivdRWEI~o-dhNaqndQd4Wh0gMxb5lf-oW8M9dfLeaL3yz2V-SDZ~lXR1QU4OvAWOjHjBqoe8e4nemzWj8a15lUJJkkX-YiXf-hodS4iv2RGsr2zSBkCud~sxEjaL8nHIP1GLakHwSanykS5KmCfWoirvOnAimqUcy24ppXwvI9E3NUgfr1C3mM7ekA49kanPyTwwXlFUEwChcA2WF3TNJyDaetey8eu7HskHAbxKngPF0w25a41WXTYw5dXHcSqGW1wWosQDU53eQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Director Holmes Jones introduced Athletes Unlimited (AU) at the Sports Authority meeting and turned the spotlight over to Ali Kleva of AU, who said the league’s success in Nashville stemmed from close collaboration with local organizations and existing professional teams.

“The secret sauce is working with a lot of the organizations that are represented in this room and beyond,” Ali Kleva said, describing an organizing committee assembled by the Nashville Sports Council’s Women in Sports Committee to connect AU to civic and private partners. Kleva said AU did not want to be “a traveling property” that simply “plops in and plops out,” but to build an “authentic experience” tied to Nashville’s history with women’s basketball.

Why it matters: AU’s four-week event filled a gap in Nashville’s women’s professional-sports calendar and, organizers said, generated measurable audience and commercial growth in a short period. Kleva reported a 96% increase in viewership, roughly an 86%–89% increase in attendance, 151% growth in merchandise sales and a 116% rise in social engagement across platforms during the Nashville run.

Kleva said the league’s athlete-driven model — including athletes on AU’s board and player executive committees that help govern league decisions — helped produce both on-court intensity and community engagement. “You see players getting signed to training camps out of AU,” Kleva said, adding that WNBA general managers and coaches attended AU games and scouts actively used the event to evaluate players.

Holmes Jones and other Sports Authority members noted AU’s emphasis on community activation — appearances, a community day of giving and partnerships with local teams and venues — and said AU’s return for two more seasons gives the city time to plan larger entertainment and partnership elements for future events.

Kleva said AU is planning strategy work for 2026 and 2027 with the Nashville organizing committee and asked local partners to continue coordinating on marketing, hospitality and community programming as the league expands its presence.

The spotlight segment closed with the authority expressing support for deeper collaboration between AU and local sports and tourism stakeholders as AU prepares to extend its Nashville schedule.","Athletes Unlimited officials told the Sports Authority their four-week Nashville run produced sharp increases in viewership, attendance, merchandise and social engagement, and organizers said the league will return for two more seasons with plans to deepen community partnerships.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6114948,"Titans stadium project on schedule; builders report more than one million labor hours and strong local participation",223,1972000,2195000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2740708-29119143b03309cca2c99d397b5237f6&start=1972&end=2195","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2740708-29119143b03309cca2c99d397b5237f6/thumbnail_1972000.jpg","/articles/6114948/Tennessee/Titans-stadium-project-on-schedule-builders-report-more-than-one-million-labor-hours-and-strong-local-participation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6114948-16594d8a85b29de31c997e2649e0ef81/orig.mp4?Expires=1770922895&Signature=o6a9mOXvUZIUsMEAnRv-tghVKLFSzLB0nAHCKZOf4KOvsnnbwkY~Xn3tZidfm2cTOLgq9Es~CcFbKFmKpW1jVwCtQZ-dal4R9IAqiAck8HLUayLw6x5Xn81GxmJnGS0SiDpsFjQgPkOBNdHCqqut-CgNqO6h5azpcBDthSrhmoLca8RekBBFanm6uURNzPpotaG06b2Mx0N6jiwcYjVSxhL-YWWCAJfcUh7qqcejpTN9iwQ4bVC78ArWeK-63PrMCWSRw7NJVIucJ6dvcNKMhBKxpD13AN9iJyNHo5BJkrf5DgoVXWUfZGmzEF0dZC9I531AS-aYrm~50BEqmAleKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Project leads for the new Titans stadium updated the Sports Authority on construction milestones, workforce participation and community programs, saying the project is on schedule with more than a million labor hours recorded and significant local contracting and workforce engagement.

Kellen DeCourcy and Adolfo Burch said the project has passed the one‑year construction mark, with approximately two years remaining on the schedule. Project teams reported they have exceeded 1,000,000 labor hours and plan a workers’ celebration to recognize that milestone.

Construction milestones cited at the meeting included: 275 seating-bowl precast pieces set (described as over 10% complete), the concrete superstructure roughly 90% complete, installation of several escalators (4 of 44 set), the underground player parking garage complete, and visible work on site infrastructure including a cistern tank and cooling-tower well. Officials said much of the superstructure concrete work is expected to finish in May, after which steel installation will increase the building height.

Officials also described a 15,000,000-gallon sewer pump station being built as part of East Bank infrastructure work; crews are tunneling under Woodland Street to connect the pump station to the stadium and the pump station is targeted to complete by the end of 2026.

Workforce and participation figures presented include: 114 local firms participating out of a denominator of 277, approximately $74 million in paid amounts to date covering 57 different firms, an average on-site workforce of roughly 900–950 workers per day, and minority participation making up about 70% of work hours. The Promise Zone community accounted for about 20% of workers and almost 30% of the total work hours, officials said.

Safety and training: Project safety data presented showed no recordable incidents in February and reported a project recordable incident rate of 1.17 through February, compared with a national average of 1.70 and a Tennessee average of 1.9; project leaders said their goal is to lower the recordable incident rate toward 0.5. Workforce-development programs reported successive graduated cohorts in the project training pipeline (TC2), increasing the total graduates in the program.

Why it matters: The report indicates steady progress on a major civic infrastructure project with notable local contracting and workforce participation and an emphasis on safety and community workforce development.

Officials invited authority members to a site tour and noted ongoing community programming and small-business support tied to the project.","Project managers reported the stadium is on schedule, more than a million labor hours have been recorded, seating precast work is underway and workforce participation figures show significant local and minority involvement; officials also highlighted a 15 million-gallon pump station and community workforce programs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

SEC tournament draws record attendance; WNBA expansion bid update given to Sports Authority

Sports Authority approves maintenance payment of up to $6,000 and fiscal year 2026 operating and capital budget

Athletes Unlimited credits Nashville partnerships for successful debut, will return for two more seasons

Titans stadium project on schedule; builders report more than one million labor hours and strong local participation