When it comes to large financing deals for new stadiums, the Metro Council usually holds special called meetings. The Council did this for the Titans, a $2.2b stadium, the Predators, the Sounds, and NashvilleSC.
In fact, Metro Council held at least two special called meetings in August 2018 for John Ingram and Nashville SC.
As some Councilmembers will tell you, August can be a month when they are helping their kids get back to college, or it could interfere with already-scheduled work obligations. But the Metro Council was able to come together in less than a month’s time for John Ingram and Nashville SC.
On a Friday night special called meeting, John Ingram praised the Metro Council for pushing it through in “an amazing amount of time,” and said that the deal only happened because “the Metro Council was willing to take up the financing proposal – the stadium financing proposal – on a quicker than normal basis.” Ingram went on to say that “it’s an amazing feat” and that “somebody will chronicle it, write about it in the future.”
“Special called meetings for new stadiums with private development make sense. Stadium financing is complicated,” said Darden Copeland, spokesman for Save My Fairgrounds. “They often have surrounding private development, like the East Bank, Ingram’s free 10 acres, or the baseball village around the Sounds stadium.”
“What’s concerning for us is that the Bristol proposal isn’t being given the same courtesy. We aren’t proposing a new stadium, or a new venue, or a new private development surrounding it. We’re talking about a renovation. We’re talking about a lease of a city asset.
If this Council would actually take the issue up, we can get a deal done that protects the taxpayers, reduces the noise for the neighborhood, provides 800 parking spaces for soccer games, and revitalizes the historic track.
We believe the majority of Council supports the Bristol deal once they learn about it. It’s disheartening that Mr. Ingram is spending millions to stop this development because he doesn’t want a competing venue next to his. Furthermore, he has thumbed his nose at the Metro Council who sent a series of questions. Back in June, Ingram’s top lobbyist promised swift answers. The Metro Council is still waiting.
We respectfully call on the Metro Council to call a special called meeting so we can hear from Mr. Ingram and further debate the proposal. Failure to do so only hurts taxpayers, neighbors, and Fairgrounds supporters.”
