The Metropolitan Sports Authority gave unanimous approval Thursday for the Tennessee Titans to construct a performance stage at LP Field.
"We have talked and are considering the concept of putting a performance stage at the bottom of the north end zone scoreboard," LP Field General Manager Walter Overton said. "The main impact is it would increase the fan experience."
Overton said that the 30-foot-by-27-foot stage could theoretically be used for concert events at the football stadium, but that it would be primarily be utilized for in-game entertainment, similar to the stage at Bridgestone Arena which hosts performances during intermissions at Nashville Predators' games.
The stage will be paid for by Cumberland Stadium Inc., the Titans' venue-operation subsidiary, and will require no outside financing.
Preds negotiations ongoing
Also on Thursday morning, Predators President and COO Sean Henry said negotiations with Metro regarding the terms of the team's lease and incentives package at the arena are continuing and remain positive.
"We are having greater discussions with the city and ideally in the next few weeks or month we'll have an announcement of a new partnership," he said.
Authority member Lauren Brisky, the board's point person during the discussions, said some small details remain before the reworked deal can be submitted for approval.
"The negotiations are going well. They are constructive and positive. We'll have some agreement on some small points and we'll have an announcement in days or weeks," she said.
Originally, the existing deal was to renew Dec. 31, 2011. That deadline was extended to the end of April and then extended again until June 30.