New convention center generated $26.4 million economic impact in first quarter of operation.

Since opening its doors in May, Nashville’s $585 million, 1.2-million-square-foot Music City Center has given the city a beacon for development and anchored a renaissance in downtown Nashville.

In its first quarter since opening, Music City Center‘s 100 events led to more than 18,000 hotel room nights and generated $26.4 million in economic impact. It is also the catalyst for more than $1 billion in new development in Nashville’s burgeoning SoBro neighborhood, located South of Broadway.
Music City Center was a collaboration among the architecture firms tvsdesign, Tuck Hinton Architects and Moody Nolan; the construction team of Bell/Clark/Harmony; and the Nashville mayor’s office.

The result is a center that is more than just a place for meetings. It is a place that encompasses the spirit of Nashville and Tennessee.

“There was a lot of care taken to create a place that reflects the best features of the city and brings them down to the human scale,” said Kevin Gordon, principal with tvsdesign. “We’ve designed convention centers all over the world, including three of China’s largest convention centers and four of the five most popular U.S. convention centers. There really isn’t anything else like Music City Center in the world.”

And developers have taken notice. Two new hotels have already opened near the convention center. Another hotel, several restaurants and a 41-story mixed-use tower also are under development.

Even before opening last May, Music City Center reached an event booking goal that yielded 1 million hotel room nights at downtown hotels. It hopes to reach that same mark this year, too. The center’s more than 100 events already hosted have included the Nashville International Auto Show and the fan experience for the 2013 CMA Music Festival.

Click here for more information on Music City Center, or visit nashvillemusiccitycenter.com.