VENDOR WRITING

Building A New Stadium Or Building Up Our Community

What’s Best For Nashville?

BY NORMA B.

A new Titans Stadium renovation was slated to cost $600 million, but now it’s expected to be double what was originally planned to $1.2 billion.

Nissan stadium originally cost $264- 290 million to build (depending on which website you use as a reference) and took approximately two years and four months to complete. So, what’s the problem? There are SO many, where to begin?

The structural frame of approximately 800 thousand cubic yards of concrete needs to be upgraded to steel. Is that REALLY necessary? Concrete is pretty durable, isn’t it? If steel is preferred, maybe they should’ve thought about that when the stadium was built.

The mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems are outdated. It should be noted that Nashville’s infrastructure — most notably its sewer system — is extremely old. It dates back more than 100 years. Now that’s outdated!

Ask anyone who’s affected by this if they’d rather have a new sewer system or a brand new stadium. What do you think they’d say?

Oh and the window system used in the stadium isn’t made anymore. Maybe they should’ve ordered a standardized window system for this type of facility, but with SO many struggling just to get by in our fair city, I can see how this would be of vital importance. (For those of you who don’t know me, THIS IS SARCASM!)

Did you know:

• Fans can buy food at 60 concession stands at Nissan Stadium while many in our community struggle to have food at all except during the holidays when considerably more emphasis is placed on caring for those suffering from food insecurity. (Newsflash: There are 363 other days each year these individuals/ families need to eat.)

• There are 40 women’s restrooms, 26 men’s restrooms, and 12 family restrooms, which is equal to one toilet for every 1,026 fans. Meanwhile, people experiencing homelessness often have a difficult time finding a place to use the restroom.

• The current stadium’s capacity is 67,770. If they do decide to build a new stadium, while the seating capacity is not yet known, it is sure to be bigger and better than its predecessor. (At least 70,000, which is the minimum needed to host the Super Bowl, but we would also need to add a dome or retractable roof too because the NFL traditionally does not award Super Bowls to stadiums in climates less than 50 degrees. And that is the ultimate goal, isn’t it?) All statistics about stadium features were found on nashville.gov.

Here’s a thought: If they do decide to build a new stadium, why not build at least one affordable housing unit for every seat in the new stadium? That would solve the problem, right?

And before anyone says we can’t afford it, my question to you is: How can we afford to build a new stadium?

Maybe you’re thinking there’s nothing that can be done to make a REAL difference in homelessness. Consider what Beth Shinn, Vanderbilt University Phd who has studied homelessness for over 30 years (the last 14 in Nashville), said in a recent interview. “Veteran homelessness has been cut nearly in half since 2010.” How? “Because both HUD and the VA had put the money into it — expanding voucher programs, offering screening, support, and preventative services etc. for both veterans and their families.”

Something else you should know: Right now, there are 108 pallet pod housing units that are sitting empty and unused even though $1.2 million of your tax dollars were used to purchase them. Why? According to OEM spokesman Donald Pleasant, “The pods are available for emergency housing due to a weather event, a mass displacement event, or some other emergency,” according to a news story on Fox17.

So, homelessness ISN’T an emergency? I beg to differ, and I’m sure that those experiencing homelessness, their advocates, and others in the community affected by this growing problem would agree.

Cost and Affordability: Here’s what the top three stadiums cost in case you’re wondering:

1. SoFi Stadium (where the Super Bowl was recently played) cost $4.9 billion and took four years to build.

2. Allegiant Stadium In Las Vegas cost $1.9 billion and took three years to build

3. Met Life Stadium in New York cost $1.7 billion and took three years to build, according to NewsChannel 5.

With that in mind, can we REALLY afford to spend that kind of money on a new stadium? Couldn’t we find a better use for that money?

Here are just a few ideas/suggestions:

• Paula Foster, Executive Director of Open Table Nashville highlighted the need for approximately 20,000 affordable housing units for those experiencing homelessness along with wraparound services to keep individuals in housing. She went on to say, “I think it’s obscene for them to spend money on a new stadium when they won’t provide affordable housing for people experiencing homelessness.”

• The Metro Action Commission does SO much to assist those in need with things like: Past Due Rent/Mortgage Payments; Electric, Gas, and Water Bills; Early and Adult Education Programs; Dietary Supplementation and Tax Assistance for those 62 and older etc. Programs like this would no doubt benefit from additional funds.

• Those of us with children/grandchildren in public schools would like to see more emphasis placed on education/ teachers. It’s no secret that Tennessee has had a difficult time recruiting/ keeping quality teachers. Could this be due in part to the fact that the base pay for a new teacher with a Bachelor's Degree with no experience is $46,271. The typical salary for those with that level of education is $63,000. Despite this salary difference, many CHOOSE to teach here, often spending money out of their own pockets to provide supplies for their students. Is it any wonder that Tennessee currently ranks so low with regard to education?

• In addition, Tennessee spends approximately $4,000 less per student per year — $11,139 — compared to the national average of $15,114. Sara Duran, Organizing Director for the MNEA, said, “Teachers and support staff should be able to live in the communities they serve, that should be given priority over building a new stadium.”

You’re telling me we can afford to build a new stadium, but don’t have money to expand these services? They must be using that new math that I'm struggling to understand.

Don’t get me wrong, I AM NOT your typical football-hating female! Quite the contrary, I LOVE a good game! This year’s playoffs and Super Bowl were the best I’ve ever seen. The teams? Definitely not any of the ones I would’ve chosen. Still, there’s no denying ALL the games were AMAZING!

I can’t help but wonder if the powers that be proceed with this plan what the REAL cost to Nashville will be, and I’m not just talking about the money, but the humanity.

By comparison, ask yourself how much money has been spent on programs to help the homeless population and others in need in the nearly 23 years since the stadium was built? Speaking on that subject with Metro

council member Sandra Sepulveda, she stated that as of October 2021, $1,541,400* had been appropriated for issues relating to emergency shelters, transportation to shelters, and other support services for people experiencing homelessness, as well as mitigation funds to encourage landlords to accept Section 8 vouchers etc. *For a detailed explanation of how the money was allocated check out her blog at: sandrafornashville.com/blogs

While this sounds like a lot of money, when compared to the cost of building a new stadium, it’s merely a drop in the bucket! She went on to say that if a new stadium is built she hopes that it would be under a Community Benefits Agreement similar to that of the new soccer stadium at the Fairgrounds which states in part that:

1. 20 percent of the housing would be allocated to affordable/workforce housing units

2. There would be direct hiring events with a minimum start pay of $15.50 per hour.

3. Childcare for workers

4. Proper training for construction workers

In other words, the community’s needs would be met (though the actual price tag for such a program is unknown at this time).

There’s one last thing to consider: In a recent news story, it was reported that Sheriff Daron Hall “may be forced to furlough [an unspecified number of] inmates due to a staffing shortage," according to NewsChannel 5. How safe do you think all those visiting tourists you’re trying to bring here will feel if/when that happens?

Don’t get me wrong, I know the Titans and their fans boost our economy. I also know that certain segments of society would greatly benefit from the construction of a new stadium — both financially and with the jobs created etc.

Think for a moment though about how much all those aforementioned groups of people could/would contribute to our society if they were given access to the resources they need to do so. Their potential is immeasurable!

Ask yourself which would be profitable for our community from a human standpoint?

My mom always stressed the importance of setting priorities. Even though she only had a 7th grade education, she understood that necessities had to be taken care of BEFORE fun and games.

It seems like common sense to me, before any decision is made, we should take time — make time — to get our priorities straight. But then again, maybe common sense isn’t so common after all.