Nashville SC CEO Ian Ayre hinted at "new 'gameday rituals' that would electrify what Ayre called one of the most important games in the early part of Nashville's existence" in MLS, according to Drake Hills of the Nashville TENNESSEAN. Ayre yesterday said that the city's music and entertainment ties "will be at the forefront of the gameday experience" for Nashville SC's home opener against Atlanta United on Feb. 29, but "still playing backup to the soccer product of the field." Ayre said, "Music has to play a fundamental part, we think, in our gameday experience." Ayre: "Our ultimate goal, as we build this thing out -- it's almost like a music festival and you have this whole mix of talent and different genres. We want to be the 'headliner.' The soccer, itself, needs to be the 'headliner' in our festival. But that doesn't mean we can't have other genres of entertainment." A Ticketmaster spokesperson said that tickets for the Feb. 29 match have "reached 'approximately 75 percent' in capacity" as of last night. The total amount of tickets made available was "not disclosed" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 1/23).
