Jan 22, 2022; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; A general overall aerial view of Nissan Stadium exterior. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Titans, Nashville discussing new stadium

The Tennessee Titans and the city government in Nashville have broached the subject of building a new stadium in town, Axios Nashville reported Thursday.

The Titans initially were looking at extensive renovations for Nissan Stadium, which opened in 1999. While the Tennessean recently reported that those renovations would cost $600 million, a Titans spokesperson told Axios the estimated price tag is closer to $1.2 billion.

The “revised cost estimates require us to closely review whether a new stadium would be a better long-term financial decision,” Nashville mayor John Cooper told Axios in a statement. “We won’t settle for anything but the best-case scenario for Nashville.”

The Titans have played in the state since rebranding from the Houston Oilers and relocating in 1997. They played one season at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis and one more at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville while construction on Nissan Stadium was completed.

The Major League Soccer franchise Nashville SC also played its first two seasons in Nissan Stadium, but it will move to a soccer-specific venue called Nashville Fairgrounds Stadium during the 2022 season.

–Field Level Media

Oct 20, 2019; Nashville, TN, USA; A general view inside Nissan Stadium prior to the game between the Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Chargers. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Titans will start allowing spectators in October

The Tennessee Titans will begin allowing a limited number of spectators at Nissan Stadium next month.

For the Pittsburgh Steelers’ visit to Nashville on Oct. 4, the stadium will open at 10 percent capacity (roughly 7,000 fans) for season-ticket holders seated in the lower bowl and club levels.

That number will rise to 12.5 percent (8,600 fans) for the Oct. 11 game against the Buffalo Bills, and to 15 percent (10,400) for the Oct. 11 contest against the Houston Texans.

For the Titans’ remaining home games — two in November and two in December — the capacity could reach 21 percent (14,500), the maximum the facility can accommodate under current CDC guidelines, according to a statement released by the team on Thursday.

“We are thrilled to welcome fans back to Nissan Stadium and can’t thank (Nashville) Mayor (John) Cooper and the Metro Nashville Public Health Department enough for their collaboration in making this possible,” Titans president and CEO Burke Nihill said.

“The health and safety of our fans, players and staff remains our top priority and we felt like a gradual capacity plan was the right call, knowing that we may need to be flexible as time goes on. We feel confident that our Safe Stadium Plan will give everyone a safe and comfortable experience as they return to our gates.”

The Titans (1-0) opened the season Monday night with a 16-14 win at Denver. They face the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0) in the home opener on Sunday in a game that will be closed to the general public.

–Field Level Media

Nov 24, 2019; Nashville, TN, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew (15) talks with Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) after a Titans win at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Titans to play home opener without fans

The Tennessee Titans will play their Sept. 20 home opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars without fans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.

Mayor John Cooper made the announcement at his daily COVID-19 news conference on Tuesday.

“We must take a cautious approach recognizing that we cannot predict our COVID-19 metrics further into the fall sports season,” Cooper said.

Officials will continue to monitor developments to determine whether even a limited number of fans may attend any games as the season progresses.

“There’s certainly no denying that we wish we would be opening our home schedule on Sept. 20 in front of fans,” said Burke Nihill, the Titans president and CEO, who joined Cooper at his news conference.

“NFL football is a game meant to be played in front of a loud, cheering crowd and no one desires that outcome more than us. However, these are not normal times and as civic leaders in this great city, we understand and support Mayor Cooper and Metro Nashville Public Health Department’s decision today to delay welcoming fans into Nissan Stadium.”

Nashville’s MLS club also will play without fans in the stands, at least for now.

“Though the time to open its gates isn’t quite here yet, the good news is that the Titans have the right road map,” Michael Caldwell, the director and chief medical officer of the health department, said about the Titans’ stadium safety plan. “I’m confident that the plan we created together is a careful, well-rounded design that will provide a large degree of protection for fans attending games in the hopefully near future. I know the team has made the necessary preparations to implement significant safety measures when the time comes.”

The Titans open the season on Sept. 14 against the Broncos in Denver.

–Field Level Media

Nov 24, 2019; Nashville, TN, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew (15) talks with Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) after a Titans win at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Titans to play home opener without fans

The Tennessee Titans will play their Sept. 20 home opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars without fans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.

Mayor John Cooper made the announcement at his daily COVID-19 news conference on Tuesday.

“We must take a cautious approach recognizing that we cannot predict our COVID-19 metrics further into the fall sports season,” Cooper said.

Officials will continue to monitor developments to determine whether even a limited number of fans may attend any games as the season progresses.

“There’s certainly no denying that we wish we would be opening our home schedule on Sept. 20 in front of fans,” said Burke Nihill, the Titans president and CEO, who joined Cooper at his news conference.

“NFL football is a game meant to be played in front of a loud, cheering crowd and no one desires that outcome more than us. However, these are not normal times and as civic leaders in this great city, we understand and support Mayor Cooper and Metro Nashville Public Health Department’s decision today to delay welcoming fans into Nissan Stadium.”

Nashville’s MLS club also will play without fans in the stands, at least for now.

“Though the time to open its gates isn’t quite here yet, the good news is that the Titans have the right road map,” Michael Caldwell, the director and chief medical officer of the health department, said about the Titans’ stadium safety plan. “I’m confident that the plan we created together is a careful, well-rounded design that will provide a large degree of protection for fans attending games in the hopefully near future. I know the team has made the necessary preparations to implement significant safety measures when the time comes.”

The Titans open the season on Sept. 14 against the Broncos in Denver.

–Field Level Media