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Fairgrounds plan stuck in planning stage
Consultants hired to determine the highest and best use of the Tennessee State Fairgrounds issued a preliminary report yesterday that left all options for making such a determination on the table.
“There’s no leaning,” said Buck Dozier, executive director for the Fairgrounds, saying at the Wednesday night hearing that it is too early in the process for the board to be focused on one path.
Consultant Rod Markin told about 100 residents and interested parties in attendance that all ideas, ranging from keeping an updated fair site to tearing everything out and redeveloping the property as a residential and commercial site, remain on the table.
Markin Consulting, along with its partner HOK Smith Forkner, will be accepting informational proposals from groups with ideas over the next few weeks, before analyzing and ranking the proposals.
“The bottom line is the bottom line. So that is going to drive a lot of what we do here,” Dozier said, indicating that whatever goes on the site will have to generate more money. “The race track’s been losing money, the fair has just lost some money in the last few years, so we’ve got to look at some things here. We’ve got a valuable piece of property here.”
The viability of the fair itself is one option for the piece of property, but Markin said it would need substantial upgrades, such as more landscaping, new exhibition facilities, and perhaps even some permanent rides.
“Anything that happens with the racing and the fair and fairgrounds staying here, there needs to be a substantial change in that business model,” Markin explained. He cautioned that if the site remains dedicated to the fair, it has to be a multi-purpose facility.
Currently, the fairgrounds hosts events year-long, including a monthly Flea Market and the Nashville Rollergirls roller derby team.
The discussion over what to do with the fairgrounds site has reignited a long-brewing argument between many residents of the area who condemn the noise generated by the racetrack, and area racing fans, who argue that the sport is a part of Nashville’s history, dating back to when the track first stared hosting events in the early 1900s.
“My daddy raced here,” said Marty Newcomb, who attended last night’s meeting at the Fairgrounds with his dad and his son. “We definitely do not want to see that go. It’s family entertainment we look forward to every week.”
The consulting firm has been collecting comments online —54 percent of those respondents said they support keeping the racetrack; 21 percent said they wanted the track moved.
Other than the noise factor, a problem with the current track is that it only pays the city $50,000 in rent, plus a percentage of the concessions. The base rent was about $250,000 10 years ago.
The current owner, Joe Mattioli, won the contract to operate the track in 2003.
The consultants’ final report will be out in August.
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Yes a /the flea market is a constant draw.When they pass casino gambling that property will be worth a fortune if they don't give tax incentives.We will get it because as Brede$en (and Clinton) stated the government never has enough money.How does "rent" get reduced 80% from 10 years ago?Nothing wrong with this town that a dozen or so Federal Investigations wouldn't cure.
id, you are always complaining about Nashville, if you hate it so much, move. I love Nashville and all of middle Tennessee and I am proud of it. I would never want to live anywhere else, but you obviously would be happy elsewhere. Just leave and don't let the door hit you on your way out.
The state fair could be a really nice, huge event.... IF the fair grounds are located some where else.Metro needs to think like a business and not cling to nastalgia for the 1970's. Selling this property helps that area of town and helps to make the fair something we can be proud of.
The fairgrounds would be a nice place for an amphitheatre or new Sounds stadium.
Duke, you read my mind. I was going to say, if those are the people living near the fairgrounds, then they need to turn it into a walking track and build some type of fitness center and a few fashion consulting firms would help too.
Looks like Uncle Jesse is sitting front and center.
RTungsten, I live in that area and for the life of me I don't understand why they don't move the Sounds there and also use it as a music venue when the Sounds are not playing. I guess that option just makes too much sense - lol!
with the new Nashville Super Speedway, why do we need another track. The niose is not good for the neighborhood and the property should be used to promote local events. Flee Market, concerts, Horse Shows, State Fair, RV Park and yes even a site for a theme park. Gee, maybe Opryland will buy it.
Most of the folks you are referring to do not live there. they were there in numbers to support the race track - so that's your typical race track fan.do not live in the area and do not have to put up with the horrible noise. It was not a beauty pageant let me tell you!!
Thats an idea, offer the property to Dolly. **** Opryland they have taken enough from us and given little in return.
Just how many more industrial, condo, or whatever units does it take to make people see that there are enough for a few years (are you blind, people?) Half of these structures are in mid-construction and slowing, the others are completed and half-empty(not sold, yet), and the big-time builders/planners for Nashville's future are finally admitting they realize the recession affects the rich, too. They hold on to their money a little longer/tighter.Why would you want to take entertainment from one group to build more choices for another group (who have multiple choices for their lifestyles already?)
The State Fair should move to Wilson County, where the attendance surpasses the State Fair. For all intents and purposes, the race track already has moved. If the Nashville track can't make a profit paying 50k in annual rent, they never will.A Sounds stadium would be a good fit. Although the Phillips site would be an even better one, Phillips wants to keep operating their eyesore and have every right to.I thought the picture was of people trying out for the remake of 'Hee Haw'.We have Rollergirls? I never knew.....
T4T, last year they were doing school bus demolition derbies at the Fairgrounds too! *sigh*
Darn, Titan1, figured you for moving to Texas after all the lavish praise you once put on the spitman. As for crooked politicians and officials not doing the jobs they are overpaid to do, Id is correct
id is an idiot and as for Adam Jones, only you and your brother keep bringing him up.
He's right about Gaylord, extreme right about most everything else.
I am going to follow through and support a baseball stadium at the fairgrounds. I have stated here many, many times that downtown is no place for minor league baseball. It just is not the right type of draw. Also repugnant is the amount of these types of projects already going and coming into a community with very little actual all-night population. The fairgrounds with its interstate access and proximity to the homes of actual families is a far better site for the family entertainment of AAA baseball. If the Sounds (or better yet, actually intelligent ownership and management) were to get together a deal on this site similar to the one for the riverfront where little taxpayer money was spent on the venture, I would vouch for it. But the land must be purchased at some sort of amount AND the project (including the stadium) must be on the property tax rolls. A private company should not control a publicly owned facility at not pay rent while still receiving maintenance money from the taxpayers.
T1- You surely don't think people have forgot how you bragged about spitman and put anyone down that had already figured out what a lowlife slug he was.
I live in this neighborhood, and have had to deal with the increasing noise from both the race events AND the practices. It is so loud that you literally can't hold a conversation, or a guitar pull outside. I'd love to see the Flea Market more often, or maybe a weekend "Farmers" Market. I'd also like to see the Sounds go in there, but they have a "Flood plane" there, so anything that goes in will take a lot of work. I do not know who "the guy" is that you were discussing earlier. I would like the State Fair to stay. As far as retail, our group means more like a "Fido's" or small restaurant, and smaller, independently owned shoppes. We would also like to have more of a "green space" developed. Thanks.
Some of you sound like Henne Youngman when you talk about the Sounds. TAKE MY MONEY PLEASE.
Gee, let me get this straight, we pay consultants to make of list of all possible approaches to the issues facing the Fairgrounds, which leaves me wondering what in the world the Executive Director and his staff are being paid to do. Oh, that's right, Ole Buck got the job because he steered his supporters to the Dean campaign in the recent Mayoral elections. After thinking about the financial nightmare he caused in the Nashville Fire Department when he was Chief, I guess it's best to pay the consultants. Dog Out