Council approves amended agreement for West Riverfront Amphitheater; amendment allows earlier contractor access

On Oct. 21, 2025, the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County approved, on second reading as amended, an agreement between the Metropolitan Government and Nashville Riverfront Amphitheater LLC, an affiliate of Opry Entertainment Group, for management, operation and maintenance of the West Riverfront Amphitheater and supporting grounds and buildings.

The council accepted an amendment described by Special Counsel Darby as allowing the operator to “get on the property sooner to do some construction.” Committee reports show Budget and Finance recommended approval of the amendment and the bill as amended; the Arts, Parks, Libraries and Entertainment committee also recommended approval with votes recorded in committee. Councilmembers approved the amended ordinance by voice vote on second reading.

Why it matters: the agreement sets the legal relationship and operating responsibilities for a major downtown performance venue and includes a provision to accelerate early construction work. Council members highlighted community benefits that accompanied the proposal: Councilmember Swara pointed councilmembers and the public to committee testimony that the operating company voluntarily committed to efforts to increase representation in hiring, contracting and performers. “They committed to making sure that there is representation in the hiring, in their staff, in the vendors that are working on the project, as well as the entertainers that are performing at this property,” Swara said during discussion.

Councilmember Parker noted a separate provision to extend or improve greenway connections behind the amphitheater and said the expected cost included roughly $1 million for construction and $100,000 for planning, with Metro responsible for any overruns. “We are anticipating that roughly the cost of that Greenway extension is gonna be the million for construction and 100,000 for planning,” Parker said. The amendment approving earlier access does not change the council’s oversight of construction-related obligations.

Committee reports and discussion: Budget and Finance reported support for the amendment and the bill as amended. The Arts, Parks, Libraries and Entertainment committee reported approval of the amendment and the bill as amended. Special counsel and staff summarized that the amendment is logistical and limited to project sequencing rather than altering core contractual obligations.

Outcome and next steps: the ordinance passed its second reading as amended on Oct. 21; the agreement will return for subsequent readings as required by council rules before final adoption. The council did not record a roll-call tally in the chamber for this second-reading approval.

Provenance (selected excerpts from council transcript): "This is an ordinance approving an agreement between the Metropolitan government and Nashville Riverfront Amphitheater LLC, an affiliate of Opry Entertainment Group, relating to management, operation, and maintenance of the West Riverfront Amphitheater and supporting grounds buildings." (Transcript excerpt introducing the bill)

"The amendment adds a provision to the agreement that allows the... company to get on the property sooner to do some construction." — Special Counsel Darby (transcript excerpt explaining the amendment)

"We are anticipating that roughly the cost of that Greenway extension is gonna be the million for construction and 100,000 for planning..." — Councilmember Parker (transcript excerpt on greenway cost)