Nissan Stadium construction advances; DBE participation and worker-safety metrics climb

Project executives updating the Sports Authority on the new Nissan Stadium reported steady construction progress, rising diversity and inclusion metrics, and improving safety records.

The nut graf: contractors said the job is progressing toward a steel "topping out" scheduled for Nov. 21, with enclosure and interior work under way, while authority leaders highlighted a jump in disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) participation and a lower-than-average total recordable incident rate.

Construction progress and milestones Calvin DeCourcy, project executive, said the site reached roughly 3.2 million labor hours and showed aerial progress on the ETFE roof compression ring, roofing membrane and precast lower-bowl pieces. "We're making a big push to top out the steel superstructure," DeCourcy said, adding that the team planned a topping-out celebration on Nov. 21.

DeCourcy also noted off-site and adjacent infrastructure work, including a pump station being built with Metro Water. "This is the 15,000,000 gallon tank that sits below grade," he said, describing recent concrete pours and anticipated backfill.

DBE and workforce metrics Adolfo Birch and team leaders highlighted an increase in DBE contract value and firm participation. Staff reported DBE participation at roughly $140 million and 111 firms, up from about $100 million and 77 firms in July.

On workforce composition and safety, Reggie Polk reported more than 5,000 workers have been on the project and that about 48% of workers have been minority and about 10% female. Polk said the project had not recorded any recordable injuries in the previous seven weeks and that the current total recordable incident rate (TRIR) was about 0.85, well below industry averages. "We have not had any recordables in the past 7 weeks," Polk said.

Training and community inclusion Staff described workforce training efforts and community outreach tied to the project, including a TC2 construction cohort and a trade-recruitment fair for graduating trainees. Managers invited the public and board members to certificate-graduation events and emphasized continued recruitment from local cohorts and the Nashville Promise Zone.

Ending Officials asked the board to note the progress and thanked members for support in setting inclusion goals; the board recorded the update and had no formal action on the presentation. The authority continues to track DBE participation, safety metrics and construction schedule as the stadium moves toward enclosure and interior fit-out.