Background information:
Music City Center Website
Music City Center Construction Begins

So they finally broke ground on the Music City Center project… Where do you stand on the issue?

I’ve been on the fence. I understand that you have to spend money to make money. But, at the same time, can you really justify such a huge expense?

I understand both the arguments for and the arguments against. I’ve included some comments from various sources below that summarize some of the key points on each side. I realize that, with construction underway, the point is moot. Still, I want to know how you all feel about it.

Leave a comment below, tweet @kennysilva, or email me.
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Arguments For:

From Debby Dale Mason at the Nashville Chamber of Commerce:

“A 2002 tourism summit resulted in an intense strategic planning process conducted by the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau Board of Directors. Out of that process came the goal of growing the hospitality industry from a $3 billion to a $5 billion industry within five years; key to that growth was improving the city as a convention destination and expanding convention facilities. By 2006, a committee appointed by then-Mayor Bill Purcell published a report, The Music City Center for Nashville’s Future, outlining the need for a new center, a recommended location, funding sources and a process to involve the community in the project’s development.

Because hospitality and tourism is the city’s No. 2 industry, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce has continuously monitored the hospitality industry and its needs. Upon the release of the 2006 report, the Chamber announced its official support of the project because of the significant economic impact it would have on the Nashville region.”

From Ex-Councilman Stewart Clifton via The Tennessean:

“I don’t believe and have never believed that making decisions for our city is about development vs. neighborhoods, or big-scale vs. little-scale or tourism vs. public services. I believe it is about balance. A part of that balance is an adequate tax base and an adequate jobs base. I believe that Nashville is a tourist center and a center for conventions and other meetings, and I believe we will stay that way. The extent to which that helps our tax base and jobs base depends on whether this Music City Center becomes reality. The fact is that we are at a crossroads of three interstates and in the center of one of the two fastest growing regions of the country. Tourists and convention goers aren’t going away but we need a more adequate convention center to support growth and revenue.”

Arguments Against:

From Metro Council Member Emily Evans’ Blog:

• The economic impact for this project is estimated at $135 million. For our $7.5 billion economy that is a less than 2% improvement.
• The estimate increase in tax revenues is about $12 million – a mere .8% boost and not enough to cover the $14 million we will redirect from other activities to the convention center.
• These low returns on our investment suggest we will not significantly improve our tax base.

From Southern Beale:

“I find it really offensive that we as a city have devoted so much time and energy to talking about the need, nay the imperative, to build a $600 million convention center, when it’s quite obvious we have other needs, and other imperatives. What does it say about Nashville that we can find the time, funding, energy to wage a PR battle, newspaper column inches, and on and on to rally for a $600 million convention center at a time when people in our community are losing their homes and cannot afford to pay their utility bills?”

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