NEYLAND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT:
An Unparalleled Rocky Top Experience
As Tennessee Athletics continues to aggressively pursue its mission of leading the way in college sports, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White has initiated the exploration of a public-private partnership aimed at the development of a first-in-class entertainment district spanning the Tennessee River waterfront near historic Neyland Stadium.
After issuing a Request for Information for the Neyland Entertainment District, the next phase approved by the state is to issue a Request for Proposals. Through this Request for Proposals (RFP), the University seeks to engage a Master Developer to develop, finance, operate and maintain these mixed-use assets through public-private partnership in which the Developer would ground lease University-owned land.
This RFP will further define the University's lease requirements, detail proposal requirements, and outline the University's process for evaluating proposals and selecting a Developer to enter a partnership with the University of Tennessee - Knoxville.
Our vision for this transformational project is one step closer to reality. We have seen a tremendous response from a wide array of top developers to be a part of this extraordinary opportunity to create the Neyland Entertainment District. We are incredibly excited about the next step in the process, and bidders submit their final proposals for this massive project that will positively impact our entire campus and the city of Knoxville. The Neyland Entertainment District will be a massive boon to America's College Sports City.Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White
Anchored by a planned hotel adjacent to the stadium’s south end, the mixed-use Neyland Entertainment District could uniquely enhance the Tennessee football gameday experience while also transforming the campus riverfront and supplementing Knoxville’s array of gathering centers with yet another attractive leisure and entertainment hub.
One of the unique elements of the Neyland Entertainment District is the connectivity and proximity to two of Tennessee’s iconic venues – Neyland Stadium and Food City Center. The proposed Neyland Entertainment District location allows the ability to service and tie the two facilities together.
The university’s initial concept for the project—which would improve the aesthetics of Neyland Stadium’s exterior façade and strengthen campus’s connection with the Tennessee River—includes a boutique, full-service hotel with condominiums and conference/event space. The vision also features the potential development of a “tabletop” above the existing G10 parking garage to support additional tailgating, restaurants, retail and family-friendly entertainment activities.
A hotel development with height of approximately 12 stories (or 168 feet) would allow for a rooftop bar or amenity space overlooking the Stadium. At 12 stories, the site can accommodate approximately 215,000 GSF of space for hotel units, condominiums, meeting / event space, food and beverage, and other / amenity spaces.
The vision for this element of the project includes adding a tabletop or cap to the Neyland Parking Garage (i.e., “G10 Garage”), which is adjacent to the hotel site, to support additional tailgating, retail, and entertainment activities, as well as provide premium views of the adjacent waterfront. This retail and entertainment district would also help engage Thompson-Boling Arena as part of the initiative, which is on grade with the top level of the G10 Garage.
ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT CONCEPTS
Public-private partnerships (PPPs or P3s) are a mechanism for government to procure and implement public infrastructure and/or services using the resources and expertise of the private sector. PPPs combine the skills and resources of both the public and private sectors through sharing of risks and responsibilities, which often fosters efficient solutions. Below you will see a sample of entertainment districts by way of a Public-private partnership.
- Greater Knoxville is situated at the crossroads of three major interstates, I-75, I-40 and I-81, in the center of Tennessee’s east grand division. The city is located within one day’s drive of half the nation’s population.
- Knoxville is within an eight-hour drive of Asheville, Atlanta, Charleston (S.C.), Charlotte, Chattanooga, Cincinnati, Louisville (Ky.), Memphis, Nashville, St. Louis and Washington DC.
- Knoxville was one of the nation’s top five booking markets in the first half of 2022, alongside Atlanta, Nashville, Washington DC and New York City.
- Knoxville features multiple unique micro-market gathering centers, including The Strip, The Old City, Market Square, Bearden, Turkey Creek and others.
Neyland Stadium has always been known for having one of the best gameday environments in college football. We love to welcome Vol Nation to campus on Saturdays in the fall. This project has the potential to create a year-round destination that engages the Tennessee River waterfront and enhances the campus and our community.Chancellor Donde Plowman
This public-private partnership opportunity will enhance the look and atmosphere of Neyland Stadium and the Knoxville campus while creating an additional destination for the city of Knoxville, all without state funding.University of Tennessee President Randy Boyd
