The Nashville Music City Center is one of the most famous landmarks in Tennessee. Also known as the Music City Convention Center, the facility is a massive 2.1 million square foot facility that opened in 2013. Since then, it has hosted everything from SCALE conferences to major sporting events to other international events. The mission statement of the Music City Center is to “create significant economic benefit for the citizens of the greater Nashville region by attracting local and national events while focusing on community inclusion, sustainability and exceptional customer service delivered by our talented team members.”

With this in mind, here is a bit more information about the history of the Music City Center, some of the famous events which have taken place there, and what is next in store!

Details on the Nashville Music Center

Due to the Music City Center’s massive size, the venue offers a number of different floor plans and packages available for use. While many of the major events take up huge swaths of space, many local organizations are able to utilize the facilities for reasonable rates. The convention center is also fully equipped to handle catering, event planning, and much more. 

One of the most well-known aspects of the Music City Center is its breathtaking architecture. The interior and exterior designs have received praise for being both practical and groundbreaking. The bulk of the architectural design work was done by TVS Design firm. Sweeping curves and massive windows create a sense of flow and light that permeates the gigantic convention space. The architecture boasts:

“…60 meeting rooms, 2 grand ballrooms, including a 57,500 sf Grand Ballroom that seats 6,000 people, and offers an 1,800-vehicle garage. Music City Center is LEED NC v2.2 Gold and hosts a 178,000 sf vegetative roof to counteract the urban “heat island” effect and slow rainwater runoff into enormous water tanks, resulting in an 80% reduction of water use.”

Nashville Music Center Hosts the 2019 NFL Draft and Much More

Perhaps the most well known to take place in the Nashville Music Center was the 2019 NFL Draft. The event was a massive success from both a financial and exposure standpoint, bringing the city’s love of sports and the Convention Center’s accommodations to the forefront of the American sports world for a few days. Here are some numbers that highlight the significance of hosting the NFL Draft:

• ~600,000 NFL fans attended the event over the course of three days.
• Nearly 50 million television viewers tuned in to watch the draft live. The Nashville Convention Center playing host played a prominent role in the TV presentation.
• The draft was broadcast in 115 countries around the world.
• An estimated $132.8 million was spent as a direct result of the event.

Due to the massive size and various accommodations of the Music City Convention Center, other well known events include volleyball championships, Amazon conventions, educational events, and even Dinosaur exhibits. The convention center committee blends well-known events with more grass roots community events to ensure that Nashville is always priority number one.

A Visitors’ Guide to the Music City Convention Center

What might otherwise be a utilitarian space for conventions and other events has itself become a tourist attraction. So far we have talked about the space as it can be used by event hosters and participants, but what about tourists looking to experience an architectural wonder? Once at the Center, visitors can check in with a guide to experience the space. What is equally important is the surrounding restaurants and other amenities within walking distance of the Music City Convention Center. Notable nearby attractions include;

• Country Music Hall of Fame: the appeal of the Country Music Hall of Fame speaks for itself. Whether or not you are a fan of the genre, the history of Nashville and of American music comes to life right down the street from the convention center.

• The Johnny Cash museum and cafe: legendary country singer Johnny Cash’s legacy lives on through his museum which doubles as a cafe. This is about as “Nashville” as it gets. Come enjoy some American history and delicious food in the heart of the city.

• Bridgestone Arena: the preeminent sporting venue in Nashville is also just a short walk from the Music City Center. Home of the Nashville Predators, live music, and a wide range of shows, the Bridgestone Arena is a great tourist attraction for all tastes!

SCALE 2020 is Being Held at the World Famous Music City Convention Center

This July 22-25th, join us at the world famous Music City Convention Center in downtown Nashville for SCALE 2020! The annual Symposium for Cosmetic Advances & Laser Education is bigger and better than ever. We are proud to present a wide range of exhibitors and sponsors who will be discussing topics ranging from robotic dermatological surgeries to acne to non-invasive cosmetic procedures. Register now to reserve your spot to the premier multidisciplinary meeting for aesthetic medicine, surgery and dermatology in the United States!