Ticket sales for Major League Soccer in Nashville are reportedly sluggish compared to the league’s other new expansion teams, and this is happening when Nashville officials want taxpayers to pay for a pricey new soccer stadium.
The Nashville Business Journal quoted multiple anonymous sources who said the Nashville Soccer Club has “only sold around 5,000 season tickets.”
“That number lags well behind the pace set by recent expansion clubs Atlanta, Minnesota, LAFC and FC Cincinnati. The number also trails fellow 2020 newcomer Inter Miami, which, according to a source, has sold significantly more than 5,000 season tickets for their inaugural season,” The Business Journal said, citing an article in The Athletic.
“While there is some concern at the league office, one of the sources said that Nashville are not overly worried about the pace of their season ticket sales. The source noted that Nashville is a city that is traditionally late to the market when it comes to buying tickets for sports and other events.”
Nashville SC’s first MLS game, The Business Journal went on to say, is scheduled for Feb. 29 at Nissan Stadium.
As The Tennessee Star reported Monday, Nashville officials have not signed any of the agreements they’ve made for an expensive Major League Soccer stadium, according to attorney Jim Roberts.
Roberts went on to say that now is “a golden opportunity to walk away from a bad deal with no penalty to taxpayers.” Major League Soccer players can instead have games at Nissan Stadium, where the Tennessee Titans play, Roberts said.
A columnist opined last year that Nashville Metro Council members should save taxpayer money and arrange for the city’s MLS team to play in Nissan Stadium.
Eric Boehm published his column for Reason last year before Metro Council members voted 31-8 for a $275 million MLS stadium project at the Nashville Fairgrounds.
He said his idea, though, makes more sense.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
[…] The Tennessee Star reported in December, season ticket sales were reportedly sluggish at around only 5,000 sold at that time, […]
Unfortunately, we here in Clarksville are going through the exact same scenario, an MPEC is being built in downtown on the taxpayers back due to extremely poor leadership, no accountability, no fiscal responsibility it’s just spend, spend, spend even thought we already are in debt to about $400 million!
It’s a great idea when you can spend someone else’s money. Thaaannnks METRO Council!
Nashville needs a “professional” soccer team like it needs more refugees and illegals. They all cost the taxpayers money.
Bread and circuses – as our great nation crumbles from greed, envy and perversion.