Auto Racing: The Music City Raceway, 3302 Ivy Point Rd., Goodlettsville (tel. 615/876-0981), is the place to catch National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) drag-racing action.
Axe Throwing: Several local companies have jumped on the axe-throwing bandwagon, but one of the most convenient and highly rated is BATL, as in the Backyard Axe Throwing League, at 1302 Gallatin Ave. in East Nashville (tel. 615/610-6766).
Baseball: The Nashville Sounds (tel. 615/242-4371), a AAA team affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, play at First Tennessee Park stadium (19 Jr Gilliam Way), which opened in 2015 on the edge of Germantown and downtown. Tickets range from $10 to $38, but many locals opt to purchase a cheap ticket and hang out in The Band Box, a 4,000-square-foot outdoor bar and restaurant located in right field that also offers Ping-Pong, cornhole, pool, board games, table hockey, and shuffleboard. The bar/restaurant has a full bar including signature frozen cocktails including a Jack Daniel’s & Coke flavor and a Creamsicle flavor that’s basically a drinkable orange sherbert push pop for adults. The Band Box also frequently invites local chefs in to create gourmet hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, and more, so it’s a great place to eat, drink, hang out, and socialize even if you don’t care much about baseball.
Football: Having made several play-off appearances, the Tennessee Titans draw loyal crowds to the 68,000-seat Nissan Stadium on the banks of the Cumberland River. The stadium is at 1 Titans Way (tel. 615/565-4200). Whether you’re going to attend a game or not, be aware that traffic downtown will back up before and after games, so be sure you’re somewhere you can stay put on gamedays (typically Sun afternoons) during those times.
Hockey: Nashville’s NHL hockey team, the Nashville Predators (tel. 615/770-PUCK [7825]), play in front of raucous crowds from October to April. Arguably the best sports show in the city, the Preds have been a fan favorite for years but especially since their 2017 Stanley Cup run, during which they eventually lost to the Pittsburg Penguins in game six. In recent years, the arena has undergone $8.5-million worth of improvements including a new audio system specifically designed for Bridgestone, which is consistently ranked the loudest arena in professional hockey. It also features new glass that is safer for players and has more give, which means it will bounce and rock more, which fans love.
Horse Shows: As much a social event as a horserace, the Iroquois Steeplechase (tel. 615/591-2991) is held annually on the second Saturday in May. This is one of the oldest steeplechase races in the country and is held in Percy Warner Park in the Belle Meade area.
Soccer: Starting in 2018, First Tennessee Park welcomed the Nashville Soccer Club, a United Soccer League team, to the ballpark for their inaugural season. The club will play at the park as Music City prepares for the eventual arrival of a Major League Soccer (MLS) team, which was awarded to the city after record-breaking crowds came to see MLS soccer matches the year prior and which is expected to launch here in 2020 or 2021. In the meantime, a $275-million stadium project at The Fairgrounds is scheduled, despite efforts by advocacy groups to stop it, saying it would damage the Nashville Flea Market.
Wrestling: If you like your sports a little more hands-on, try out Southern Underground Pro Wrestling, which is exactly what it sounds like. For just $15 at the Basement East (917 Woodland St.; tel. 615/645-9174), you can get a real taste of good old-fashioned Tennessee wrastlin’.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
