How did Nashville transform from a city with no major professional sports teams into one of America’s major sports destinations? Jay Grider, COO and Special Advisor at the Nashville Sports Council and author of Last Call: From the Minor Leagues to Nashville’s Rise as a Major Sports Destination, joins Nashville Sports Report to discuss the people, events and decisions that helped build Nashville’s modern sports identity.

Grider has spent much of his career working behind the scenes in event operations, sports recruitment and the development of major sporting events in Nashville, with experience ranging from minor-league baseball to the Music City Bowl. We talk about how Nashville earned its place on the national sports map and what it takes for a city to establish itself as a destination for major events.

Also on this week’s Nashville sports roundup:

• The Nashville Predators trade Luke Evangelista to the New Jersey Devils, receiving Colorado’s conditional 2028 first-round pick and New Jersey’s 2028 second-round pick as Nashville continues accumulating draft capital.
• The Tennessee Titans set their initial 53-man roster, Xavier Restrepo lands on the practice squad, former starting quarterback Will Levis remains unsigned, and rookie Fernando Carmona earns the starting job at right guard.
• Nashville SC plays New York City FC to a 0–0 draw before road matches against Toronto FC and Inter Miami.
• Vanderbilt football opens its season with a 28–9 win over Austin Peay.
• No. 3 Vanderbilt soccer improves to 5–0, with Sydney Watts scoring twice in a road win over Houston.
• Middle Tennessee defeats Murray State, while Tennessee State falls on the road at No. 3 Georgia.

Nashville Sports Report covers the teams, people, events and stories that make up Nashville’s sports community, including the Tennessee Titans, Nashville Predators, Nashville SC, Vanderbilt Athletics, Tennessee State, Middle Tennessee and more.

Links

• Buy Jay's Book "Last Call" Here
• Volunteer with the Nashville Sports Counsel
• Nashville SC vs NYCFC highlights
• Vanderbilt Soccer vs. Houston highlights
• TSU vs Georgia Highlights
• Vanderbilt Football vs. Austin Peay highllights
• MTSU vs Murray State Post-Game Press Conference

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