The Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) open the 2019 season with a new look after rebranding and a new parent in the form of the Texas Rangers — and a proven track record of development around First Tennessee Park.
When First Tennessee Park opened in 2015, it was pitched by the city and the team ownership as an economic-development tool, bringing the edge of downtown Nashville with the Germantown neighborhood while replacing unsightly surface parking lots. (It also featured a lot of soil remediation to remove pollutants from the area.)
Now, in the fifth season of First Tennessee Park, that promise is seemingly fulfilled, with plenty of growth surrounding the ballpark and in the neighboring Germantown neighborhood. Team officials say that the First Tennessee Park area is now a true neighborhood, with more growth on the way. From WSMV:
“It’s just unbelievable the change that’s happened here over the last five years,” said Sounds General Manager Adam Nuse.
Nuse said more than 600,000 fans attended Sounds games last year, the majority walked to the stadium from Germantown.
“It continues to be a hotspot to come to, looking around this neighborhood, it is such a pedestrian area now,” said Nuse. “People are always walking their dogs, walking, even with suitcases. This area continues to transform.”
Economic growth isn’t the only story emanating from First Tennessee Park and the Sounds front office today. The Sounds are opening the year as the new Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers and underwent an offseason rebranding to adopt the Rangers’ colors and a look more in line with Texas. A March exhibition between the Sounds and the Rangers set a new First Tennessee Park attendance record, drawing 11,824 fans to the ballpark. Fans will also be treated to a slew of new menu items from the Sounds and concessionaire Centerplate.
Photo of First Tennessee Park courtesy Nashville Sounds.