NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 4, 2026) – The Nashville Sports Council and ESPN Events today announced the Sprouts Farmers Market Broadway Block Party women’s college volleyball event will return to Nashville, Tenn.’s Bridgestone Arena on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. The event will feature four elite programs from the SEC, ACC and Big Ten in a doubleheader, broadcast nationally on ABC and ESPN2.
“After the success of last year’s event, we’re thrilled to collaborate again with ESPN Events and Sprouts Farmers Market to deliver a doubleheader with elite competition from across the nation,” said Scott Ramsey, President and CEO of the Nashville Sports Council. “This event highlights Music City’s commitment to elevating women’s collegiate volleyball on both a local and national stage.”
The first matchup will showcase the University of Louisville Cardinals and the University of Texas Longhorns on ABC at noon ET. As they begin their third SEC season, the Longhorns will continue to compete under longtime head coach Jerritt Elliott, who has led the program to three NCAA national championships during his tenure. The Cardinals will be led by second-year head coach Dan Meske, who has helped lead the Cardinals to three Final Four appearances and two title matches since joining the staff in 2017.
In the second volleyball matchup, the University of Tennessee Lady Vols will face the Indiana University Hoosiers on ESPN2 at 3 p.m. ET. In 2025, under the leadership of Eve Rackham Watt, the program’s third-winningest head coach, the Lady Vols earned their fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. This marks Tennessee’s second time in the Sprouts Farmers Market Broadway Block Party. Head coach Steve Aird led the Hoosiers to the best season in program history in 2025, breaking their single-season NCAA-era record for wins (25).
“The Sprouts Farmers Market Broadway Block Party continues to blend the very best of the sport of volleyball with a fun and exciting location,” said Clint Overby, ESPN Vice President of Events. “We are excited to host Louisville, Texas, Tennessee and Indiana in this key early-season event.”
Last year’s inaugural event drew 11,200 attendees to Bridgestone Arena for the venue’s first women’s collegiate volleyball event, with the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Purdue Boilermakers and Illinois Fighting Illini each earning match victories. The inaugural event delivered ESPN networks’ most-watched regular season college volleyball match ever, with Nebraska vs. Kentucky averaging 1.2 million viewers on ABC.
This year’s attendees can expect a variety of interactive fan experiences to be announced. In 2025, activations included Sprouts Farmers Market custom photo tattoos, Tennessee Titans virtual reality tours of the new Nissan Stadium and more.
Members of the Nashville Sports Council and previous buyers receive exclusive presale access to this event from March 4–5. Not a member? Sign up today at NashvilleSports.com/Membership.
Tickets go on sale to the public on March 6 at NashvilleSports.com/Broadway-Block-Party.
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Contact
Emily Jimenez - REED, (678) 584-3421 or emily@reedpublicrelations.com.
About the Nashville Sports Council
The Nashville Sports Council, Inc. is a private, non-profit, membership-based organization of area companies and individual sports enthusiasts. Created in 1992, the Nashville Sports Council’s mission is to positively impact the economy and quality of life of the Greater Nashville Area by attracting and promoting professional and amateur sporting events. The Nashville Sports Council has hosted hundreds of major sporting events that have produced more than $1.4 billion in direct economic impact for the region. For more information call 615-743-3120 or visit NashvilleSports.com. Follow the Nashville Sports Council on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter/X.
About ESPN Events
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of collegiate sporting events nationwide. In the 2025-26 academic year, the 35-event schedule includes three early-season college football kickoff games, 17 college bowl games, 10 college basketball events, two college volleyball events, the premiere regular season college softball and gymnastics events, as well as the Band of the Year National Championship. Collectively, these events account for over 400 hours of live programming on ESPN platforms, reaching 60 million viewers and attracting more than 650,000 annual attendees. Each year, the portfolio of events features more than 20 Division I conferences and hosts over 4,000 participating student-athletes. With satellite offices in more than 10 cities across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.
About Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc.
Sprouts Farmers Market is one of the largest and fastest-growing specialty retailers of fresh, natural and organic food in the United States. Sprouts helps people live and eat better with fresh produce at the heart of the store and delicious discoveries for every dietary lifestyle. Always foraging for what’s fresh and innovative, Sprouts offers a carefully curated assortment of products that inspire wellness naturally, including organic, gluten-free, plant-based and non-GMO favorites. Headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, Sprouts employs approximately 36,000 team members and operates more than 470 stores in 25 states nationwide. To learn more about Sprouts and the role it plays in its communities, visit sprouts.com/about.