A Chancery Court judge ruled that Metro Nashville’s contract to build the Major League Soccer stadium on The Fairgrounds Nashville is invalid because the meeting approving it violated the Tennessee Open Meetings Act, WSMV reported.
The Sports Authority gave only 48 hours’ notice before holding a special meeting to sign off on the $192 million contract with M.A. Mortenson Co./Messer Construction Co. on November 1, 2018.
The authority must reschedule a meeting, provide adequate public notice and conduct another vote, Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle said.
A summary of the case’s activity is here.
Nashville Attorney Jim Roberts, who’s representing Save Our Fairgrounds, one of the plaintiffs, joined host Michael Patrick Leahy on a February edition of The Tennessee Star Report – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – to discuss the lawsuit.
The transcript and audio are available here, but a summary of some of Roberts’ main points follows.
Leahy: What are the bad elements of it? The city is giving them 10 acres, and they can do anything they want to it includes building a stadium and mixed-use development which I think is in violation of the original terms of the establishment of the fairgrounds. Do I have that right? It’s very complicated. Lay it out for us.
Roberts: There are actually two elements to it. The mixed-use is part of it and the stadium is part of it. The mixed-use very clearly violates the 1923 Private Act that established the fairgrounds and the fair board. It violates the Metro charter. It is inconsistent with holding a fair in Nashville. And will pretty much lead to the re-development of the entire property because it will cause the other events like the flea market and expo to all fail. And that is the intention.
This state is also is in violation of the state law and the charter because it’s a use that’s not compatible with the fair. But you have to understand Michael that this property was created for one purpose. And that was to educate the people of Tennessee. To educate the people was to hold a state-level fair. And that’s what it’s for. And now just because 100 years later people want to get rich off of it is no reason to break the law.
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Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.
Nashville can’t afford a soccer stadium. We can’t even pay the light bill.
Those of us in Wilson County are waiting, it’s high time for Metro Davidson County to get to work on a new Major League Baseball park. Get on it!
Everyone knows that rules and laws are made for the little people and don’t apply to John Ingram or his crowd. After all, only rednecks go to the State Fair or the Flea Market or the Speedway. Nashville needs more sports teams and stadiums the public can pay for. Everyone knows that.
Do not know if it will make a difference, but GOOD, This has been pushed thru with several Mayors. Big risk for the city, if you follow the money, you will find our why.
The bunch of crooks got caught. The Nashville Sports Authority should be investigated. Let the public vote!! Move the soccer stadium to Williamson County, they have plenty of money!