NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Music City offered a preview Wednesday of what the NFL and football enthusiasts can anticipate in 2030 when Nashville hosts Super Bowl 64.
Television broadcaster Jim Nantz served as master of ceremonies, while country music star Eric Church occupied a front-row seat at a press conference that resembled more of a celebration for securing what officials call Tennessee’s largest sporting event in history. NFL team owners unanimously decided Tuesday to grant Nashville the rights to host the 2030 Super Bowl.
Nantz, who has provided commentary for seven Super Bowls on CBS and now calls Nashville his home, emphasized that Music City excels at organizing major events.
“We are, among many things, we’re in the entertainment business, and I don’t have a doubt that we’re going to entertain the people that travel to our city and our state to the greatest experience they’ve ever had at a big event,” Nantz said. “That’s what we do, and now we get to show them.”
Depending on weather conditions, a public celebration was scheduled for Wednesday evening on Lower Broad, the same location that anchored the 2019 NFL draft festivities, featuring live music, special appearances, and a drone display.
The proposal team that helped Nashville secure this Super Bowl featured comedian Nate Bargatze, Church, and another celebrity in Tim McGraw.
Speculation has already begun regarding the halftime entertainment, with Taylor Swift emerging as a favored recommendation.
Peter O’Reilly, NFL executive vice president of club business as well as international and league events, remembered a massive thunderstorm approaching 200,000 attendees during the 2019 draft, only to divide and bypass the city. O’Reilly described that occurrence as Nashville magic.
Nashville concluded with record-breaking attendance figures, establishing new benchmarks for future host cities. O’Reilly anticipates Nashville will repeat this success.
“Super Bowl 64 in 2030 is going to be a game-changer for the Super Bowl,” O’Reilly said. “Super Bowl 64 in 2030 is going to be a game-changer for the NFL.”
The same organizers who helped Nashville execute the 2019 draft remain in their positions. Burke Nihill, the Tennessee Titans’ president and CEO, confirmed they will participate in planning as Nashville applies its Music City identity to all aspects leading up to and including the Super Bowl at the new Nissan Stadium.
“Let’s not start with a base understanding of how it’s always been done,” Nihill said of exceeding the NFL’s expectations. “How can we create something new that’s very different?”
Nantz also serves as co-chair of Nashville’s Super Bowl host committee alongside Bill Haslam, a former Tennessee governor and majority owner of the NHL’s Nashville Predators. Nantz expressed confidence that 2030 will mark only the first Super Bowl held at Nissan Stadium, which is scheduled to open in 2027.
Deana Ivey, president and CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, stated her concentration remains on 2030 initially.
“I haven’t asked that question,” she said. “I’m focused on the first time.”
