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. Nebraska’s new head coach, Dani Busboom Kelly, made her mark on the scene, bringing the Cornhuskers to victory after five fervent sets.
Next, #15 Purdue Boilermakers vs. Tennessee Lady Volunteers lit up the arena with their action-packed match. Although Purdue won the first two sets, Tennessee rallied to take the third, but Purdue secured the win by closing out the match in the fourth set.
Finally, coming off their 28th NCAA tournament appearance, the Illinois Fighting Illini took on Nashville’s very own Vanderbilt Commodores, who opened their historic inaugural season at the event with a first-set win. The Illinois Fighting Illini solidified its match win in set four of the night’s final game.
“Events like this are vital in showcasing the talent and strength of female athletes and the growing support for women’s sports,” said Caitlyn Ranson, Director of Partnerships and Event Activation at Bridgestone Americas and Chair of The Nashville Sports Council’s Women’s Sports Committee. “The Nashville sports community is unique in our ability to blend big-league ambition with a close-knit, collaborative spirit, ultimately opening doors for future generations and reaffirming our commitment to growing women’s sports locally and nationally.”
To learn more about The Nashville Sports Council's mission and future events,, visit NashvilleSports.com.
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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.