Sunday, July 19, 2026

Nashville’s New $2.1B Stadium Expected to Land 2030 Super Bowl

With the 2026 NFL Draft and schedule release now complete, team owners have an active agenda for their spring meeting in Florida. 

The Tennessean

The NFL is poised to set future locations for two of its top events at its spring meeting this week in Orlando. 

Team owners, meeting Tuesday in central Florida, are likely to approve Nashville as the host city for Super Bowl LXIV in 2030, according to industry sources and multiple reports. The selection of the Titans’ home market, initially reported by the NFL Network, will help herald the new $2.1 billion Nissan Stadium, set to open next year, and it will be the first time the NFL’s biggest event is held in Music City. 

That forthcoming domed facility was supported in part by $1.26 billion in public funding, and the choice continues a long-held league practice of rewarding cities with new stadiums—particularly those aided with taxpayer funds—with a Super Bowl hosting slot. Nashville, meanwhile, drew 600,000 fans when it hosted the NFL Draft in 2019, beginning a run of attendance records for that event that reached another peak this year with 805,000 attending in Pittsburgh. 

Expanded Schedule in Play?

What’s unknown with the Nashville Super Bowl, however, is the exact date of that game. The league is still considering a move to an 18-game schedule, something that needs approval from the NFL Players Association, which is reluctant at best on this issue. That would, in turn, alter the date of the Super Bowl, and because of the uncertainty around the 18-game regular season, there aren’t firm dates yet either for Super Bowl LXII in 2028 in Atlanta or Super Bowl LXIII in 2029 in Las Vegas. 

That lack of clarity has complicated some of the planning for ancillary Super Bowl events, particularly in Atlanta. 

The upcoming Super Bowl LXI will be in Los Angeles, buttressed by a hefty programming and promotional push by game broadcaster ESPN and its parent company Disney.

As for the draft, meanwhile, Minnesota is set to receive the firm nod to host the 2028 event following Washington, D.C., next year. The Vikings’ home market will have a high mark to reach as officials in the nation’s capital are already aiming to beat the attendance record from Pittsburgh, and draw more than 1 million fans across the three-day event. 

The Vikings formally tendered their bid for the draft last month, and once the choice is made official, it will complete a run through the NFC North division markets following Chicago in 2015 and 2016, Detroit in 2024, and Green Bay in 2025. Amid the runaway success in Pittsburgh, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said, “We’re going to probably have to start allocating the drafts a little further in advance.”

Other League Business 

While those two event placements will highlight the spring meeting agenda, there are other pressing matters at hand.

League owners will formally approve a lease deal between the Commanders and the District of Columbia to build a new stadium on the grounds of RFK Stadium. The D.C. Council formally approved a stadium funding plan last September, and the Commanders unveiled an initial design in January inspired by the team’s former home. 

There will be an update on a Bears stadium situation that has stalled in the Illinois legislature in recent weeks, as some Chicago leaders, including Mayor Brandon Johnson, are still trying to keep the team in the city. That’s happening despite repeated statements from the team, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and the NFL that the stadium site choice is down to either Hammond, Ind., or Arlington Heights, Ill., and has been for months.

The league could also move to increase its number of international games in 2027 to 10, upping the total from a current record of nine that are set for the 2026 season. With the Jaguars’ separate agreement to play in London, the vote could position the NFL to play as many as 11 global games next year. 

The NFL will additionally be reviving its accelerator program, which seeks to “advance talent from underrepresented groups,” but had been paused in 2025. Among the names in the 34-person pool is Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, the head coach of the Dolphins from 2022 to 2025.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Nate Burleson Front Office Sports

Nate Burleson: ‘I’d Gladly Take a Pay Cut’ for CBS to Hire Travis Kelce

Burleson also had high praise for CBS’s hiring of Russell Wilson.
Former NFL Coache Jon Gruden have a laugh while attending an NFL training camp session ten at the Miller Electric Center, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]

Can Jon Gruden Reinvent Himself on Play-by-Play?

Gruden will reportedly call a Buccaneers’ preseason game next month.

Is MetLife the Right Host for the World Cup Final?

FIFA picked an outdoor afternoon final over an indoor stadium like Dallas.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

A Conversation with Nate Burleson on Russell Wilson at CBS, Travis Kelce’s Media Future, and Seahawks $9.6B Sale

0:00

Featured Today

Tom's Watch Bar

Sports Bars Are Cashing In From Summer of Soccer

The World Cup has brought a windfall to America’s biggest sports bars.
Jun 16, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; France forward Michael Olise (11) controls the ball against Senegal during a Group I match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at New York New Jersey Stadium
July 16, 2026

Where World Cup Stars Go to Customize Their Cleats

The world’s best players turn to a Scottish craftsman for perfect cleats.
July 10, 2026

What the World Cup Means to Erling Haaland’s Tiny Hometown

The tournament’s breakout star is from a rural Norwegian town.
July 10, 2026

Why So Many Media Outlets Are Rushing Into Sports

Sports coverage has ballooned in every corner of media.
Pillow Fight Championship
July 8, 2026

How Obscure Sports Get Mainstream TV Deals

For niche sports, getting on TV often matters more than getting paid.
Jul 17, 2026; Southport, ENG; Bryson DeChambeau reacts after making a birdie on the 18th hole during the second round of The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Birkdale. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Bryson DeChambeau Rules Violation Creates Chaos at The Open

DeChambeau was assessed a two-stroke penalty after the second round.
Jul 5, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (2) slides into score against the St. Louis Cardinals during the sixth inning at Wrigley Field.
July 17, 2026

Pending Labor Talks, MLB Is Set for Earliest Opening Day in 2027

Labor woes cloud the consideration of next year’s slate.
Apr 18, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts against the Houston Rockets during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
July 17, 2026

Silver Wants LeBron Decision So NBA Can Finalize Schedule

James’s free agency choice will help shape the NBA’s national TV schedule.
Sponsored

Clase Azul Tequila Founder’s Soccer Ownership

Arturo Lomeli talks about managing a tequila brand and two soccer clubs.
July 16, 2026

MLS Commish: ‘We’ve Got a Lot of Boats’ on Soccer’s Rising Tide

The league eyes significant growth in the wake of a massive World Cup.
Jul 11, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Conor McGregor (right) attempts a flying kick at the start of his fight against Max Holloway during UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
July 16, 2026

McGregor Return Draws Nearly 16 Million Viewers on Paramount+

UFC 329 trailed Freedom 250 in total and average viewership.
May 27, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud (9) brings the ball up court against the Toronto Tempo during the first half at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Exclusive
July 16, 2026

WNBA’s Cloud Calls Out Engelbert Over Sports Bettor Threats

Cloud said she constantly receives racist messages online.
July 16, 2026

NHL’s New 84-Game Schedule Brings Earlier Start, High-Profile Games

The expanded slate leans further in to a series of key events.