Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00
Geodis Park 625 Smith Ave Nashville, TN 37203
Year Opened: 2022 Capacity: 30,000
No Matter How Far for the Gold and Blue
Nashville is quickly becoming one of the up-and-coming sports cities in the country, with the high level of support the Nashville Predators receive, the past successes the Tennessee Titans have experienced, and the Triple-A Nashville Sounds routinely in the top 5 of minor league baseball in attendance annually. The city has also received a lot of support to attract a Major League Baseball expansion franchise, and is beginning to establish itself as a soccer town, with the addition of Nashville SC as part of Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2020.
Nashville SC is not the city’s first run at professional soccer – dating back to the early 1980s the Nashville Diamonds played in the American Soccer League. Later, the Nashville Metros and Nashville FC competed in various professional soccer leagues from the late 80s throughout the mid-2010s. Nashville SC first came to fruition as a member of the USL Championship level for three seasons, leading to the establishment of an MLS franchise in Nashville for the 2020 season under new ownership.
Initially playing at Nissan Stadium for their first two seasons, the Boys in Gold would move into the soccer specific Geodis Park in time for the 2022 season. As of 2024 the 30,000-seat stadium is the largest soccer-specific stadium in the United States or Canada.
Food & Beverage 5
Geodis Park does well to give fans a wide array of food and beverage options, while keeping wait times to a minimum. Practically every stand also has an additional cart somewhere else on the concourse, providing alternative locations to help keep lines short.
Food options consist of Latin America fare at Taqueria Zepeda, with steak or chicken nachos, tacos, and quesadillas, and the Latin flavors continue with three types of empanadas, yuca fries, fried plantains, banuelos (balls of fried dough rolled in sugar and cinnamon), and mango rice pudding. Central BBQ takes care of that southern staple with three types of BBQ sandwiches, while pub grub from Nashville’s Corner Pub focuses on burgers and smoked wings. From pizza to gourmet hot dogs, smash burgers, and the iconic Nashville hot chicken, there are no less than six local food spots featured around the stadium. Lastly, for those seeking a quick snack, Circle K grab-and-go stations offer a variety of snacks and beverages, minimizing the wait time for a small filler.
The local offerings also extend beyond food to craft beers and cocktails – the facility features beers from Hap & Harry’s Tennessee Beer, Hub City Brewing, Half Batch Brewing Company, Little Harpeth Brewing, Wiseacre Brewing Company, and the Nashville SC branded Pitch from Music City Beer Co. Ciders and spirits from Tennessee-based Bearded Iris, Diskin Cider, and Sugarlands Shine are also available; fully stocked bars are also conveniently located around the concourse.
For non-alcoholic options, Geodis Park offers soft drinks from the Coca-Cola family, cold brew coffee, Body Armor, and Red Bull.
Atmosphere 4
A handful of MLS teams share stadiums with National Football League teams, just as Nashville SC once played in Nissan Stadium. Unlike most NFL stadiums, however, Geodis Park’s design is inspired by the industrial factories that once populated the neighborhood, and features a large canopy that overhangs most of the seating area. Exposed steel beams contribute to Geodis Park's modern feel.
The game presentation here is what would be expected from top-tier soccer matches in the United States – pre-match excitement builds with a steady stream of flames, sparks, and yellow smoke throughout player introductions. During the match, however, the focus remains on the game itself, with the chants, songs, and beats from the supporters going a long way in creating a top-notch MLS experience.
With just 150 feet between the touchline and the first row of seating, fans are right on top of the action on the pitch. When choosing seats it largely depends on the desired experience – it should be noted that seats in the supports section are standing only, with arched back supports for fans to lean against. That area is definitely a fun place to take the game in from, but it is not for everyone. For example, following goals, drinks are known to be sent high toward the heavens in celebration.
There really are not any bad seats at Geodis Park, but the upper level of seating is a bit steep, and traversing the stairs can be challenging.
Neighborhood 4
Geodis Park is the centerpiece of Nashville’s Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood. Known for their festive nightlife, Nashville's popular areas "The Gulch" and "Broadway" are both within two miles of Geodis Park; these neighborhoods are well known for their high concentration of restaurants, hotels, and nightlife options.
Although Geodis Park is a bit removed from the excitement of Nashville’s Broadway, there are still a handful of points of interest nearby. For example, the renowned Hattie B’s Hot Chicken and the legendary Zanies Comedy Club are both just over a mile from the stadium.
While the immediate area around Geodis Park may not offer many pre- and post-match options, the surrounding areas provide nearly endless choices for entertainment, dining, and lodging.
Fans 4
Nashville’s attendance numbers only tell part of the story – averaging 28,000 fans per match, Nashville SC ranks solidly in the top 10 for MLS attendance. With Geodis Park's capacity of 30,000, few other MLS clubs rival the crowd size Nashville sees. For fans, a smaller stadium near full capacity often offers a better experience than a larger stadium with many empty seats, where the passion of the fanbase can dissipate into the empty seats.
Nashville SC has several different groups of supporters, collectively known as “The Backline”, who work throughout the match to create a festive soccer experience. They beat drums and other percussion instruments, rattle cowbells, chant, and wave flags, maintaining high energy throughout the match. For the most passionate soccer fans who enjoy diving right into the revelry, "sitting" in this section would be ideal, but for a more reserved experience, fans in the rest of the stadium are also actively engaged in the match, albeit with slightly less enthusiasm than those in the supporters’ section.
Access 3
Geodis Park is conveniently located less than a mile from I-65, a major interstate artery in the Southeast running between Louisville, Kentucky, and Birmingham, Alabama.
Nashville SC tries to make getting to the stadium as convenient as possible for fans from around the Nashville area, with buses from the southern reaches of metro Nashville, Antioch, and Murfreesboro transporting fans to matches. Free parking is available at Fort Negley, but that is over a mile away, and there does not appear to be shuttle service there to and from the stadium. Parking in the surrounding neighborhood is discouraged, with signs posted on the streets closest to Geodis Park to prevent game-day parking.
Once at the stadium, entrances are located around the perimeter, making entry quick and easy. Despite the numerous concession carts around the concourse, the walkways are wide enough to minimize congestion. The club and suite sections of Geodis Park are restricted to ticket holders for those areas, preventing the stadium from being fully accessible.
When leaving the parking lots after the match, pack your patience; the lots are often highly congested. Although attendants are available to help organize traffic flow there is only so much they can do to help, given the restricted movement on the surrounding streets and the number of vehicles from numerous lots trying to leave through a single exit point.
Return on Investment 3
Tickets to Nashville SC matches are reasonably priced, starting at around $20 for a spot in the supporters’ section. However, parking rates seem disproportionately high, starting at over $30 per car. There are some alternatives to avoid this price, but those options don’t provide post-games shuttles, and there aren’t many choices near Geodis Park. While free parking is available more than a mile away, the distance may outweigh the benefit for many fans.
Concession prices are consistent with those at most other stadiums – the basics are relatively affordable, while some specialty items are a bit more expensive for what you are getting.
Extras 5
Geodis Park doubles as an art museum of sorts, featuring fifty-eight pieces of artwork by local artists displayed around the stadium.
The area outside the supporters’ entrance on the north side of the park offers several activities for visitors to enjoy before entering the gates; entertainment includes several soccer skills centers, promotional tents, and live music.
The festivity of the supporters’ section contributes significantly to creating an enjoyable soccer experience for all attendees, even those not seated in that section.
After the match, the team pays tribute to their supporters by lining up across the top of the penalty area to sing the Nashville SC anthem, “Never Give Up on You”. The song's importance is highlighted as fans pass through the supporters’ gate, with the lyrics printed overhead on the wooden ceiling.
Final Thoughts
Sports fandom in most international cities does not get bigger than the passion it shows for its soccer club. Though it might never rival that level of intensity in the United States, it has grown into a major contributor to the fabric of a city’s culture.
Geodis Park does a good job at giving visitors an entertaining American soccer experience in a beautiful venue – the facility pulls in the excitement that comes with the city of Nashville and makes it part of the complete experience.
What Nashville SC has achieved in a relatively short amount of time is impressive. They have built a top-notch soccer facility and cultivated a fun and exciting stadium atmosphere, laying the foundation for a successful American soccer experience for years to come.
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