Nashville Sports Council

Through Her Eyes: Maya Johnson, Belmont UnIversity Softball

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 08:00:59 -0700

People hear my story, the lupus diagnosis, the chemo, the highs and lows of softball, and they reach for the same word every time: resilient.

They say it like it’s something I was born with. Like it’s a cape I put on one day and never had to think about again.

But resilience is one of the most misunderstood things we celebrate.

People see what I’ve overcome and assume it comes naturally to me. They see where I am now and miss what it cost to get here.

But resilience is hard.

There are days I don’t want to be resilient. Days when quitting would be easier. Days when I wish things came without the fight.

Resilience isn't a trait you're handed.

It's a choice you make every day, sometimes every hour, to keep going anyway.

I grew up very Type A.

That’s part of why I fell in love with pitching. I liked controlling the pace of the game. I liked that every pitch started in my hand. In a world that often felt unpredictable, the circle gave me something solid to hold onto.

Softball has carried me through a lot of change. The game has asked me to adjust, compete, and keep trusting myself. But pitching has always been the part that made the most sense to me because it gave me somewhere to focus.

Over time, the circle became more than a position. It became the place where I could slow down, breathe, and feel steady when life outside of it felt uncertain.

But some of the...Read More

NASHVILLE TO HOST SUPER BOWL LXIV IN 2030

Tue, 19 May 2026 11:35:55 -0700

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 19, 2026) – The National Football League announced that Nashville will host Super Bowl LXIV in 2030 in the new Nissan Stadium, a historic event that will drive economic growth and global exposure for Music City. The announcement was made earlier today at the NFL Spring League Meeting in Orlando, following a review of the proposal by the NFL’s Fan Engagement & Major Events Committee and a vote by full ownership.

“Hosting the Super Bowl, one of the largest events in the world, is a milestone moment for Nashville and Tennessee and reflects how far our city has come over the last several decades,” said Deana Ivey, President and CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. “Nashville has been building toward a major global opportunity like this for years through strategic investments, strong community partnerships, and a proven ability to host world-class events, and we are ready for this moment. This is about far more than football. It is an opportunity to showcase the creative spirit, distinctive character, warm hospitality, and vibrant energy that make Music City special, while welcoming the world to a city that brings people together through music, sports, and shared experiences.”

The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp serves as the lead event organizer and will coordinate operational planning and partnerships with the city and state. The Tennessee Titans organization serves as the Host Club, providing stadium resources and operational support.

“We are thrilled that the new Nissan Stadium will host Nashville’s first Super Bowl in 2030,” said Tennessee Titans...Read More

Liberty Mutual Insurance to Sponsor Nashville's Inaugural Music City Kickoff

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:00:31 -0700

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 2, 2026) – The Nashville Sports Council and ESPN Events today announced Liberty Mutual Insurance as the title sponsor of the first-ever Music City Kickoff at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium this Labor Day weekend. The Liberty Mutual Music City Kickoff will feature the Louisville Cardinals and Ole Miss Rebels in an ACC-SEC showdown on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. EST/6:30 p.m. CST, broadcast nationally on ABC.

“Last winter’s Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl was a tremendous success – from the fans it brought to the city of Nashville to the impact on the local economy,” said Jenna Lebel, Liberty Mutual Chief Marketing Officer, US Retail Markets. “We're proud to build on that momentum with the inaugural Liberty Mutual Music City Kickoff this fall, and we can't wait to start the college football season off with a prime-time SEC-ACC showdown in Nashville.”

Liberty Mutual most recently signed as the title sponsor of the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl in December 2025, which generated more than $38.2 million in total economic impact across Nashville, and has officially renewed its title sponsorship for 2026.

“We’re thrilled to join forces with Liberty Mutual to launch the inaugural Music...Read More

Inagural FCS Championship Generates $31.3M Economic Impact to Music City

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:30:20 -0700

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 12, 2026) – The Nashville Sports Council and the NCAA today announced that the NCAA Division I FCS Championship for the 2025 season attracted 24,105 fans from across the country, the highest calculated attendance since 1995. According to data collected by the Nashville Sports Council in partnership with the Belmont University Department of Sport Administration, the matchup between the Montana State Bobcats and Illinois State Redbirds generated over $31.3 million in total economic impact for the city.

In early January, following the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl and New Year’s Eve Live, the championship drew a new wave of football fans to Nashville, with visitors from across the country filling hotels, restaurants and local attractions ahead of the game. This was the first FCS Championship outside Frisco, Texas, in over 15 years, further establishing Music City as a growing hub for college sports.

“The NCAA and the FCS committee were proud to bring the Division I Football Championship Game to Nashville for the first time,” said Ty Halpin, director of championships at the NCAA. “Nashville proved to be an outstanding host city, with the Nashville Sports Council,...Read More

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.”