The National Football League has chosen Nashville to host the 2030 Super Bowl at the Tennessee Titans’ upcoming enclosed stadium, marking the first time the championship game will be played in Music City.
Team owners cast their votes Tuesday to award the game to Nashville’s new $2.1 billion facility. The decision comes after the city demonstrated its capabilities during the highly successful 2019 NFL draft, which set new attendance records for the league.
Commissioner Roger Goodell noted that Nashville had proven itself in every area except having an appropriate venue. He praised the city’s performance during the draft, saying it established new benchmarks for the league.
“That for us changed the future of the draft, arguably changed the future of the Titans and the community,” Goodell said. “And I think this is the next great step in a remarkable football journey and a great community in Nashville. We can’t wait to be there.”
Construction of the new facility is progressing on schedule, with completion expected in February after three years of building. The stadium is being constructed directly opposite the existing Nissan Stadium. While some questioned whether the planned seating capacity would be sufficient for a Super Bowl, league representatives monitored the development process closely.
By scheduling the 2030 Super Bowl for Nashville, the Titans will have three complete seasons to address any operational issues that may arise.
Controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk expressed excitement about Nashville’s inaugural Super Bowl and acknowledged the support of Goodell, fellow team owners, and the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.
“We cannot wait for our community to experience an event of this magnitude and for the world to see the energy, hospitality, and culture that make our city so special on a global stage,” she said. “We look forward to bringing an unforgettable Super Bowl experience to Nashville together.”
The NFL’s leadership was impressed by Nashville’s unique approach during the 2019 draft, which featured live musical performances between player selections and major artists like Tim McGraw headlining nightly festivities. Crowds gathered in the Lower Broad entertainment district, with additional activities held at the Titans’ current venue, accessible via a pedestrian walkway.
“We are grateful to the NFL for the confidence they have placed in our community,” said Deana Ivey, president and CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. “Nashville has earned a reputation for hosting major events at the highest level, and we are ready to welcome the world.”
Among NFL cities, only New Orleans and Las Vegas offer more hotel accommodations within one mile of their stadiums. Nashville’s hospitality market is expected to grow to 658 hotels with over 80,000 rooms by 2030, compared to the current availability of more than 61,000 rooms.
The stadium construction involves $760 million in bonds from Nashville’s sports authority plus $500 million in state bonds. This combined $1.2 billion in taxpayer funding represented the largest public investment in an NFL stadium when approved in 2022.
Burke Nihill, the Titans’ president and CEO, credited the support from municipal, state, and community officials for making Tuesday’s announcement achievable.
“We are grateful to the NFL for the opportunity to host in 2030,” he said. “Beyond the game itself, this event will create lasting impact for Nashville, our fans, and the entire region for years to come.”
This selection extends the NFL’s Super Bowl schedule, which includes SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, for 2027, followed by Atlanta in 2028 and Las Vegas in 2029.
Nashville has broader ambitions beyond securing a Super Bowl for the new Nissan Stadium. Former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, who also serves as controlling owner of the NHL’s Nashville Predators, leads the Music City Major Events group formed in 2023 to attract additional premier events to the venue.
The league also revealed Tuesday that Minnesota will host the 2028 draft, marking ten years since that city last hosted a Super Bowl in 2018. Pittsburgh welcomed a record 805,000 attendees over three days during April’s draft. Washington is set to host the 2027 NFL draft.
