NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
The new Music City Center will open Sunday, May 19 with a two-day grand opening celebration.
The grand opening will include a free open house featuring live, local music on both May 19 and May 20, as well as a free street party and outdoor concert on May 20. Details about the May 20 concert, including the lineup and headliner, will be announced in the coming weeks.
Additionally, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean will present his State of Metro address at the new center on May 20.
Construction on the $585 million facility began in January of 2010 and will be completed on April 30.
During May, furniture, fixtures and equipment will be installed, and staff training will continue.
Already more than 100 meetings and 800,000 room nights have been booked.
The Music City Center totals 2.1 million square feet including 1.2 million square feet of public space.
Major features include a public art collection comprised of more than 80 pieces and a 57,500 square feet grand ballroom which seats 6,000 people.
"I continue to be impressed by the size and beauty of the Music City Center and encourage Nashvillians to see it for themselves during the grand opening," Mayor Dean said in a release.
Green features include solar panels and a green roof and the building is on track to receive LEED Silver certification.
Due to its larger size, the Music City Center will be able to host 75% of conventions in the country, compared to 25% that can currently be accommodated at the Nashville Convention Center.
Dean concluded, "There's no doubt we are a city with momentum, and with the opening of the Music City Center in May, even more tourists and conventioneers will get to see that first hand. We know it's not going to be the biggest convention facility in the country, but I'm absolutely certain it will be the best."
Previous Stories:
- Jan. 28, 2013: Hundreds of solar panels to be installed on Music City Center's roof
- Jan. 4, 2013: 117 days remain on Music City Center construction
- Nov. 9, 2012: Visitors' exec. says city struggling to get conventions
- July 17, 2012: 700K hotel room nights booked in advance at Music City Center
- June 28, 2012: Music City Center more than three fourths complete
- June 15, 2012: Omni Hotel just over year away from completion
- April 30, 2012: Music City Center 1 year away from completion
- Jan. 13, 2012: Music City Center faces minor setback
- Jan. 9, 2012: Music City Center already pre-booked 600,000 room nights
- Nov. 28, 2011: Music City Center more than halfway complete
- Nov. 2, 2011: Construction on Music City Center reaches halfway mark
- June 13, 2011: Music City Center making fast progress
- March 31, 2011: Road construction to continue around MCC
- Feb. 17, 2011: Downtown road construction drags on
- Jan. 20, 2011: Construction workers claim too many out-of-state jobs at MCC
- Jan. 16, 2011: Downtown intersection reduced to 2 lanes for construction
- Jan. 13, 2011: Music City Center making fast progress
- Sept. 9, 2010: Construction continues on new Music City Center
- Aug. 24, 2010: Omni to build $250M convention center hotel
- March 22, 2010: Official groundbreaking held for Music City Center
- March 11, 2010: Music City Center creates construction jobs
- March 9, 2010: Blasting begins for new Music City Center
- Feb. 26, 2010: Convention center construction hits full throttle
- Feb. 8, 2010: Crews tear down first building in Music City Center's footprint
- Feb. 7, 2010: Auto shop relocates to accommodate convention center
- Feb. 4, 2010: Find alternative parking during downtown construction
- Jan. 21, 2010: Proposed Music City Center plans first conventions
- Jan. 20, 2010: Music City Center, Medical mart concerns addressed
- Jan. 20, 2010: Convention center given green light: Now what?
- Jan. 20, 2010: Convention center approval clears way for medical mart
- Jan. 19, 2010: Convention center approved, plans move forward
- Jan. 19, 2010: Council approves convention center financing package
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