Nashville's Metro Sports Authority has "halted discussions" about a proposed grand prix in the city, "billed as an annual five-day festival culminating with a Sunday race outside Nissan Stadium," according to Joey Garrison of the Nashville TENNESSEAN. The city's move has "effectively killed the proposal for now." But Grand Prix of Nashville organizers said that they are "pressing on in hopes of holding the event one day, perhaps at a different location." Citing logistical issues, Metro Sports Authority Dir Monica Fawknotson said, "We just felt like there were just too many unanswered questions, especially in regards to the needed infrastructure and, quite honestly, just how do we work around this city's vigorous special events schedule." The race -- proposed by former Pocono Raceway President Joe Mattioli and former Baker Curb Racing CEO Matt Crews -- would have "used buffers and grandstands on the parking lots surrounding Metro-owned Nissan Stadium." Organizers said that they were "interested in partnering" with either IndyCar or IMSA, which is owned by NASCAR. Mattioli said, "We hope that we can move forward, if not now, then perhaps in the future," adding that his group has been working on "alternative locations and hope to be able to make an announcement in the near future." He "did not identify other potential locations" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 11/15).
