Talks between the Tennessee Titans and the city of Nashville about renovations to Nissan Stadium have now expanded to the possibility of building a new stadium entirely, according to Axios’ Nate Rau.
A Titans spokesperson told Axios that renovation costs would be nearly double the $600 million they were reported to be by The Tennessean earlier this month, which has led to a re-evaluation of the situation.
“We need to take a step back and re-evaluate if a stadium renovation is the most responsible option forward and explore other paths,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson then went into a bit more detail about why costs to renovate will be so high.
“For example, the stadium’s structural frame was built with concrete and needs to be largely replaced with steel,” the spokesperson said. “The mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems need to be completely replaced. The window system throughout the building is so antiquated that it is not even manufactured anymore.”
In a statement to Axios, Mayor John Cooper confirmed the aforementioned issue with cost and the consideration of a new stadium, saying “revised cost estimates require us to closely review whether a new stadium would be a better long-term financial decision.”
In 2019, Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk made it clear that she didn’t want a new stadium in an interview with Midday 180. It isn’t clear if she has changed her mind since then.
“I don’t want a new stadium,” she said. “But I do like the Hard Rock Stadium [where the Miami Dolphins play]. That’s a very interesting model and one that we need to keep looking further at to make improvements.”
This is certainly a situation that bears monitoring, as it looks like the Titans and Nashville are, at the very least, considering changing course to build a new stadium after months of talks about renovations.
