Nashville Sports Council

Louisville and Ole Miss to Open Their 2026 College Football Seasons in Nashville's Inaugural Music City Kickoff

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 11:00:10 -0800

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 5, 2026) – The University of Louisville Cardinals and Ole Miss Rebels will open their 2026 college football seasons in the first-ever Music City Kickoff at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans, on Sunday, Sept. 6. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. EST/6:30 p.m. CST, and the nationally televised matchup will air on ABC.

The Labor Day weekend neutral-site contest, brought to Nashville by the Nashville Sports Council in collaboration with ESPN Events, will feature a compelling SEC-ACC showdown in the heart of Music City.

“This matchup was already a tremendous opportunity for our program, kicking off Coach Golding’s first full season at the helm against a high-caliber opponent like Louisville, set in a premier destination like Nashville. Now with the added spotlight of a Sunday primetime national broadcast, the stage is even bigger,” said Ole Miss Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics Keith Carter. “We’re confident Rebel alumni and fans throughout Music City will turn out in great numbers to create an electric atmosphere and be part of a memorable night.”

The Ole Miss 2025 season was one of the most successful stretches in program history, as the Rebels delivered a historic 11-win regular season and earned the program’s first College Football Playoff appearance.

This matchup marks the second meeting between the programs. Their first came in the 2021 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta, a neutral-site season...Read More

Nashville Sports Council Announces Second Annual Sprouts Farmers Market Broadway Block party

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 09:00:13 -0800

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...Read More

Nashville Sports Council and Nissan Stadium Announce Ole Miss vs. Louisville Football Matchup in September 2026

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 13:00:22 -0800

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Nashville Sports Council and Nissan Stadium announced today that they will host Ole Miss vs Louisville in a neutral site game to kick off the 2026 college football season on Labor Day Weekend. The game is expected for either a September 5^th or 6^th matchup that will be televised nationally on ESPN.

“We are excited to host Ole Miss and Louisville and to open the college football season on Labor Day Weekend in Nashville,” said President & CEO of the Nashville Sports Council, Scott Ramsey. “We appreciate the collaboration between the schools and ESPN Events to make this happen. It will be exciting to kick off the college football season in the final season of the current Nissan Stadium.”

Louisville previously played Western Kentucky in 2019 at Nissan Stadium in addition to 2015 Music City Bowl against Texas A&M and 2019 Music City Bowl against Mississippi St. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (October 7, 2025) - Mark Womack, Executive Associate Commissioner of the Southeastern Conference, who spent nearly half a century of his professional career as a member of the SEC staff, passed away Monday at the age of 70.

Womack also served as Chief Financial Officer, was a liaison to the SEC’s athletics directors, and he spearheaded scheduling efforts for the sport of football. He also worked with the SEC’s football bowl partners and television partners in addition to his general administration duties of SEC football and the SEC office.

During his 47 years in the SEC office, Womack witnessed 20 football national champions from the conference and the SEC experienced unparalleled success across all sports. He was also instrumental in negotiating some of the most lucrative television contracts in the history of college sports.

Womack played an integral role in the growth of the SEC as its footprint has grown from seven states when he joined the Conference office in 1978 to 12 states today. The SEC expanded from 10 members to 12 in 1991 with the addition of Arkansas and South Carolina, then to 14 in 2012 with the addition of Missouri and Texas A&M, and once again to 16 members when Texas and Oklahoma joined the SEC in 2024. He was instrumental in the development of the first SEC Football Championship Game in 1992, the first conference championship of its type in Division I.

"Mark Womack dedicated nearly five decades of his...Read More

Nashville Sports Council AND ESPN EVENTS WELCOMED 11,200 ATTENDEEES AT BRIDGESTONE ARENA'S FIRST VOLLEYBALL EVENT

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 07:00:44 -0700

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Nashville Sports Council and ESPN Events hosted Bridgestone Arena’s first-ever women’s collegiate volleyball match, Sprouts Farmers Market Broadway Block Party, on Sunday, Aug. 31. Three adrenaline-charged Big Ten versus SEC matches lit up the event, with the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Purdue Boilermakers and Illinois Fighting Illini emerging victorious.

The tournament attracted over 11,200 attendees from around the country to Music City’s Downtown to cheer on their favorite teams. The event featured numerous fan experiences such as Regions Bank giveaways, Sprouts Farmers Market custom photo tattoos and Tennessee Titans virtual reality tours of the new Nissan Stadium. Before the matchups, The Nashville Sports Council presented a custom-wrapped Carter Vintage Guitar to each team’s head coach, a symbolic ‘key to the city,’ celebrating Nashville’s rich musical heritage.

“The turnout and enthusiasm for the inaugural Sprouts Farmers Market Broadway Block Party have been nothing short of incredible," said Scott Ramsey, President and CEO of The Nashville Sports Council. "The atmosphere and energy from the fans created an electric environment for the players and teams and provided a great showcase on national television for the city and event. It was an exciting introduction of world-class SEC and Big Ten women’s collegiate volleyball to Music City!”

The crowd erupted when #1 Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. #7 Kentucky Wildcats took the stage for the first high-energy match of the tournament....Read More

Nashville Sports Council Announces Sprouts Farmers Market to Title Inaugural Broadway Block Party Event.

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 09:36:48 -0700

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Nashville Sports Council and ESPN Events announced today Sprouts Farmers Market as the title sponsor of the inaugural Broadway Block Party women’s college volleyball event. The matchups will take place August 31, 2025, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

“We are thrilled to announce this partnership with Sprouts Farmers Market and look forward to launching this premier event alongside them,” said Scott Ramsey, President and CEO of the Nashville Sports Council. “The Sprouts Farmers Market Broadway Block Party is the first of its kind in Bridgestone Arena and we are confident this partnership will continue to push collegiate volleyball and women’s sports forward.”

All three games will be available to watch with one ticket purchase. Matchups include Nebraska vs Kentucky (ABC), Purdue vs Tennessee (ESPN2), and Illinois vs Vanderbilt (SEC Network).

“Here at Sprouts, we are on a mission to empower women collegiate athletes both on and off the court. We are fueling performance through nutrition, by partnering with organizations like the Nashville Sports Council who are changing the game in women’s sports,” said Alisa Gmelich, Chief Marketing Officer of Sprouts Farmers Market. “We love seeing and supporting the growth in women’s volleyball and are proud to be the title sponsor for the inaugural Broadway Block Party.”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Nashville Sports Council is proud to announce the 2025 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament set a new record for its economic impact on the city of Nashville. The latest edition of the event generated $26.6 million for Middle Tennessee, topping its previous high mark of $24.5 million from 2024.

In total, 244,831 fans attended the tournament at Bridgestone Arena from March 12-16, marking the second highest attendance figure in the event’s history. The SEC’s addition of Texas and Oklahoma this season expanded the tournament schedule to eight sessions and 15 total games. The tournament featured its highest Thursday evening attendance and second-best Friday evening attendance in the last decade.

“With 16 fanbases and five days of sellout crowds in Bridgestone Arena, the tournament is consistently one of Nashville’s most successful weeks of the year both economically and for national exposure,” said Scott Ramsey, President & CEO of the Nashville Sports Council.

Bridgestone Arena and Nashville have now hosted the tournament 13 times, totaling over $202 Million in direct economic impact for the city. The annual event is scheduled to remain in Nashville through 2035.

Per attendee surveys, 52.1% of fans came from out of town and stayed an average of 3.26 nights in the Nashville area. Out-of-town attendees occupied roughly 10,864 hotel room nights and spent on average $307 a day. Local...Read More

NASHVILLE SPORTS COUNCIL ANNOUNCES BIG TEN VS SEC VOLLEYBALL MATCHUP IN MUSIC CITY.

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:00:03 -0800

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Nashville Sports Council and ESPN Events announced today the inaugural Broadway Block Party women’s college volleyball tournament will take place August 31, 2025, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

The tournament marks the first women’s collegiate volleyball tournament in Bridgestone Arena. All three games will be available to watch with one ticket purchase.

“We are extremely excited to showcase some of the most elite volleyball athletes in the country at Bridgestone Arena. With the national growth and interest in collegiate volleyball and women’s sports in general, we are confident we can create a great atmosphere for these matches,” said Scott Ramsey, President and CEO of the Nashville Sports Council. “We appreciate the partnership of the SEC, Big Ten and ESPN in establishing this exciting new event for Nashville.”

The first matchup will feature Nebraska and Kentucky. The Huskers are five-time national champions and have a new head coach in Dani Busboom Kelly. The Wildcats are the defending SEC conference champions and will be led by transfer and reigning Big Ten kill leader Eva Hudson. This matchup will be broadcasted nationally on ABC.

“This fall, we’ll get to witness some of the top women’s volleyball talent in the country at the top of their game,”...Read More

Nashville Awarded 2026 & 2027 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 08:01:54 -0800

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Nashville Sports Council and the Ohio Valley Conference, along with partners Vanderbilt University and the City of Nashville, have been awarded the 2026 and 2027 NCAA Division I Football Championship games.

Nashville becomes the 11th city to host the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Championship since 1978. The games will be played at FirstBank Stadium on the campus of Vanderbilt University on January 5, 2026 and January 4, 2027.
“On behalf of the Nashville Sports Council Board of Directors and entire Nashville community, we look forward to hosting the FCS National Championship in Music City in 2026 and 2027,” said Nashville Sports Council President and CEO Scott Ramsey. “We appreciate the confidence of the NCAA and FCS Selection Committee in our ability to showcase this prestigious championship event in Nashville and provide a memorable experience for the players, coaches, administrators, and fans.”
“As a storied FCS conference, we are delighted to work with our partners to showcase our city and expose this cherished championship to a different region of the country,” said OVC Commissioner Beth DeBauche. “We are committed to ensuring that the student-athletes competing in this premier championship event have an exemplary experience.”

Those early years marked by my coach’s command to “hustle”, became my proving ground, igniting the

determination that led to the establishment of PRO-TENTIAL Management in 2002.

Armed with nothing more than a laptop and phone, I crisscrossed cities and states—Atlanta, New York,

L.A., D.C., Maryland, North Carolina, Nashville, and Houston—following the many different paths that

make up the business of sports.

The game-changer in my story unfolded when Eddie George assumed the role of head football coach at

Tennessee State University. The role of Director of Football External Relations would be my first in the

competitive world of college football, specifically Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs).

In the heart of TSU, my journey stands at the crossroads of experience and aspiration. I've witnessed the

transformative power of sports, and now, my mission expands, propelled not only by personal

achievements but by the young students who aspire to have a career in sports particularly young, Black

women and look to me for guidance and mentorship.

Join me as we pave the way, not merely...Read More