It’s official – IndyCar to race on streets of Nashville (Update)

RACING

This unique course will test every driver’s ability. With seating and viewing areas throughout the course, you will see racing at its finest. This event will also feature activation areas and a wide range of exciting activities the whole family can enjoy together.

Event Facts:

• Inaugural event dates are August 6-8, 2021.
• Series: NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the premier level of open-wheel racing in North America.
• For information and updates, including ticketing details visit musiccitygp.com. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
  
• The three-day international festival of speed and sound will be staged on a temporary grand prix circuit on city streets, around the Nissan Stadium campus and across Korean Veterans Memorial Bridge.
• Attendees can look forward to the best Nashville has to offer including live music performances by top artists, best-in-class food experiences and entertainment that centers on speed in only a way Music City can serve it up.
• Music City Grand Prix is a privately financed event and is not seeking city funding. As such, we will be responsible for the successful execution of the event and are working closely with Metro officials and agencies to acquire all necessary permits and approvals.
• The executive management team of MCGP includes:
• Matt Crews, MCGP CEO, former President of BakerCurb and Brewco Racing
• Christian Parker, MCGP President, former Executive Vice President/Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of the Nashville Predators and Bridgestone Arena
• Jason Rittenberry, MCGP Chief Operating Officer, former President of Memphis Motorsports Park and Chief Strategy Officer of Circuit of the Americas/US Grand Prix
• Patrick Roddy, MCGP Director of Budget and Finance, formerly Chief Operating Officer of AC Entertainment.
• The Music City Grand Prix is owned and promoted by 615GP, LLC. 615GP’s primary investors include:
• William “Teddy” Phillips, Chairman of Phillips Infrastructure Holdings and President/CEO of Phillips and Jordan
• Kevin Clayton, President/CEO of Clayton Homes
• Scott Borchetta, President/CEO of Big Machine Label Group
• JR Hand, President/CEO of Hand Family Distributors
• John Thompson, CEO of MTA Distributors
• Darby Campbell, Owner & President of Safe Harbor Development
• Events of this scale require the assistance and involvement of numerous public and private partnerships. MCGP is sincerely appreciative of the efforts and partnership of INDYCAR, the Tennessee Titans and Nissan Stadium, the State of Tennessee, Metro Nashville Government (the office of Mayor Cooper, the office of Film and Special Events, Metro Police Department, Nashville Fire Department), Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation, Middle Tennessee State University – School of Concrete and Construction Management, GS&F Marketing Communications, the Nashville Sports Council and Ticketmaster.
• Music City Grand Prix is currently offering exclusive membership offers for Club RPM and the Founders.
• Club RPM is a VIP experience with unprecedented access including concierge-style service for entertainment reservations, valet parking and entry into the Club RPM lounge at the Bridge Building. More information is available at www.musiccitygp.com/clubrpm.
• The Founders is a first-right program offering reserved seating, exclusive discounts, priority purchase opportunities on parking, hotels and more. More information is available at www.musiccitygp.com/thefounders.
• Additional ticket information, including other packages, will be available in the coming months.

Track Details:

• The 2.17-mile-long temporary grand prix track will start and finish near Nissan Stadium before racing over and back on the Korean Veterans Memorial Bridge, making Music City Grand Prix one of the only events in motorsports to cross over a major body of water.
• Track width: 37-80 feet
• Number of turns: 11
• Pit/paddock location: Nissan Stadium Lots A, B, C, D
• Pit lane length: 1,194 feet
• Longest straightaway: 3,578 feet
• Approximate top speed: 200mph
• Barriers used: 2,315
• Weight per barrier: 9,600 lbs.

Community and Corporate Citizenship:

• Music City Grand Prix is committed to being a positive force in the city and to improving the lives of residents. To help make sure our impact on Nashville is felt long after the event is over, we are focused on partnering with organizations dedicated to affordable housing, skills training (STEM, building and construction trades) and awareness for the care provided to children at Vanderbilt’s Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital.
  • MCGP has teamed up with the Middle Tennessee State University School of Concrete and Construction Management and its material science program. As one of the most respected programs in the nation, MCGP will work with MTSU to create safer and lighter blends of concrete using recycled materials and better molds long-term for racing and everyday use. The partnership will also create advanced learning experiences for students and manufacturing relationships for the material science program.
  • Music City Grand Prix has developed a partnership with the Martha O’Bryan Center to assist with STEM programming for students.

MCGP is engaged with Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt to bring drivers to the kids to learn about racing as well as set up fun, interactive events for kids to explore the magic of INDYCAR.

IndyCar Press Release

The Music City Grand Prix, in partnership with INDYCAR, is bringing a new sound to Nashville. The Music City Grand Prix announced today that the newest NTT INDYCAR SERIES race will debut Aug. 6-8, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee. The three-day international festival of speed and sound will be staged on a temporary grand prix circuit in downtown Nashville and around the Nissan Stadium campus.

Attendees can look forward to the best Nashville has to offer, including live music performances by top artists, best-in-class chef-curated food experiences and entertainment that centers on speed in a way only Music City can serve up.

“The Tennessee Titans and Nissan Stadium are excited to partner with the Music City Grand Prix to bring the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to Nashville and the stadium campus,” said Burke Nihill, president and CEO of the Tennessee Titans. “This is in keeping with our organizational goal of making our city, this venue and our organization as versatile and as busy as possible.”

Never-Before-Seen Track Features

With Nissan Stadium serving as the paddock for the race, the 2.17-mile temporary track will race across the Korean Veterans Memorial Bridge into downtown Nashville and back, making the Music City Grand Prix one of the only events in motorsports to cross over a major body of water.

The first street course added to INDYCAR since 2013, it features 11 turns and plenty of straightaways for drivers to pass. These and other dynamic features will create an exhilarating experience for both drivers and fans.

“The Music City Grand Prix will be a one-of-a-kind NTT INDYCAR SERIES experience anchored in the heart of Nashville’s action-packed, exhilarating downtown corridor,” said Mark Miles, president and CEO of Penske Entertainment Corp. “Nashville is a world-class city and global entertainment capital that provides an exceptional platform for our Series. From professional sports teams and top live music acts to a burgeoning food and culture scene, it is a perfect home for a racing event of this magnitude. Urban street festivals have become a huge part of our DNA at INDYCAR, and this three-day festival—complete with a course that pushes the limits—will highlight everything Nashville and the sport have to offer, providing international travelers, racing enthusiasts and local thrill-seekers alike with an experience of a lifetime.”

A Local Event With an International Draw

“Nashville continues to serve as a world-class entertainment and event destination, so adding an urban racing festival of this caliber is a logical next step for the city,” said Butch Spyridon, president and CEO of Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation. “From the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Finals to the 2019 NFL Draft, Nashville knows how to host sporting events of all kinds while making them a party. The Music City Grand Prix underscores why Nashville was named Best Sports City in 2019, and we look forward to the national and international marketing it will bring to the city.”

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES features talented and charismatic drivers from around the globe, including legendary Scott Dixon from New Zealand, two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato from Japan and Nashville native and resident Josef Newgarden, a two-time Series champion.

“Nashville is a special place, and the announcement of the Music City Grand Prix truly marks a huge step forward for our community as we look to the future and a return of our thriving and unique entertainment scene,” said Nashville Mayor John Cooper. “This announcement could not have come at a better time. The event represents a tremendous private investment in the city and a catalyst to our economic recovery.”

In keeping with true Nashville community, the Music City Grand Prix has forged key partnerships in order to bring this privately funded event to fruition. Music City Grand Prix is appreciative for the collaboration with INDYCAR, the Tennessee Titans, the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation, Metro Government of Nashville & Davidson County, the State of Tennessee, the Nashville Sports Council and the Middle Tennessee State University School of Concrete and Construction Management.

Club RPM and the Founders Experience

While the event will feature a variety of affordable and attractive ticket options to ensure all attendees experience a weekend unlike any other, the Music City Grand Prix is currently offering two distinctive membership initiatives. Club RPM is a premium VIP experience. Early members will gain access to concierge-style service for entertainment reservations, valet parking and entry into the Club RPM lounge at the Bridge Building. Additionally, fans can become a Music City Grand Prix Founder and receive reserved seating, exclusive discounts and priority purchase opportunities on parking, hotels and more.

Additional information, including the Music City Grand Prix schedules, artist lineup, food experiences and more, will be released at a later date. Visit www.musiccitygp.com to find more details on the event, sign up for Club RPM or become a Founder.