Nashville’s Music City Center (MCC) (201 Rep. John Lewis Way South) opened in May 2013 as a completely new facility to replace the aging Nashville Convention Center. The location chosen for the complex was Black Bottom, a section of downtown so named because of the muddy residue left on streets after flooding from the Cumberland River. South of Broadway, the neighborhood became known as SoBro.
More than 15,000 people attended the Grand Opening celebration. In addition to live music and food, attendees could ride a zip line through the exhibit hall.
The 2.1 million-square-foot venue has 353,000 square feet of exhibit space, two ballrooms, 60 meeting rooms, and a 1,800-space covered garage (the largest in Nashville). It’s largest ballroom is over 57,000 square feet and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame is located inside the building. Gold LEED certified, the center sports a four acre green roof, 845 solar panels, and an underground 360,000 gallon stormwater runoff cistern. Four beehives on the roof produce over 100 pounds of honey each year.
Adjacent to the MCC is the Country Music Hall of Fame and Bridgestone Arena. Within, hundreds of pieces of artwork from Tennessee, Georgia, and Kentucky residents are on display. Music City Center continues to host CMA Fest, Con of Thrones, IMX, NACUA’s Annual Conference, and the Music City Sports Festival.
The Schermerhorn Symphony Center (home of the Nashville Symphony), Printer’s Alley (sometimes called the Bourbon Street of Nashville), The Riverfront Park, and various museums nearby, make Music City Center a cultural hub of the country music capital of the world.
EAT
If you’ve got the money, Oak Steakhouse (801 Clark Pl) is the place to go in Nashville. Less than a mile away from Music City Center, this vegetarian-friendly steakhouse is a modern, business dinner ideal spot. Start with shrimp or oysters, then move on to the bone-in ribeye, Japanese A5 wagyu, or the massive 48-ounce. prime tomahawk. For dessert, the chocolate cake is regarded as one of the best in the state of Tennessee.
If you’re watching your food budget, Music City has you covered with
Assembly Food Hall (5055 Broadway Pl). Less than two blocks from the convention center, Assembly Food Hall has over 30 eateries and bars to choose from. There’s pho, shawarma, cheesesteak, bars, and even shaved ice and cotton candy if you just want dessert.
SLEEP
Not looking for a long walk to the convention from your hotel? You’re not going to do better than Omni Nashville Hotel (250 Rep. John Lewis Way S). Less than .2 miles away, you can go from their rooftop pool and hot tub to that seminar in minutes. The full service spa and a live music bar will help the wind down from convention energy.
Noelle (200 Fourth Ave. N) is a 1920s classical revival style structure that has been on the National Registry of Historic Places since 1984. Serving as a hotel, then office building, in 2017 it was converted back to an upscale stay with all the personal touches that define a boutique hotel.
PLAY
When you’re in the country music capital of the world you shouldn’t pass up a chance to visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (222 Rep. John Lewis Way S). Essentially right by the convention center, the museum also ties into Hatch Show Print tours and provides access to Historic RCA Studio B experiences.
For live music, check out Lower Broadway (between 2nd Ave and 5th Ave), the four-block “Honky Tonk Highway” with live music, rooftop bars, and more.
This story originally appeared in the Q3 2026 issue of Exhibit City News, with the original magazine layout available here.
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