Grand Ole Opry House To Receive $12 Million In Upgrades
Ryman Hospitality will invest $12 million in upgrades for the Grand Ole Opry House, include additional parking, larger retail space, and upgrades to its backstage tour experience.
With more than 650,000 attendees in 2016 (the Grand Ole Opry had 150,000 visitors in 2012), The Grand Ole Opry will soon have an additional 1,300 parking spaces on undeveloped land just north of the Grand Ole Opry house. The renovations will also include a 5,000-square-foot retail footprint with additional beverage and food options, including food trucks.
Also there we will be a redesigned box office, a VIP lounge area with a backstage tour theater.
Construction for the retail expansion is expected to begin in January of 2018 and is anticipated to be complete by October of 2018. The additional parking spaces are scheduled for summer 2018. The VIP lounge and relocated box office area is expected to be complete in January of 2019. The Opry House will host a full calendar of events and daily tours during construction.
Colin Reed, chairman and CEO of Ryman Hospitality Properties said, “As country music’s popularity continues to increase worldwide, more people than ever before are making the journey to Nashville to experience the magic of the Grand Ole Opry firsthand. This expansion will allow us to improve our guest experience before and after the shows while also providing us the opportunity to meet growing customer demand for additional Opry-themed experiences, enhanced food and beverage options and expanded tour offerings.”
Reed continued, “Our investment strategy in Nashville reflects our bullishness on the appeal of our assets and this market. Donelson is an economic engine for Davidson County and Middle Tennessee, and with these enhancements at the Opry House as well as SoundWaves at Gaylord Opryland set to open in 2018, we are uniquely positioned to create additional demand for the area through high-quality, family-friendly offerings.”
The Grand Ole Opry upgrades follow a string of investments Ryman Hospitality has made in its Nashville properties, including a $14 million investment on an expansion for the Ryman Auditorium in 2015, including the opening of Cafe Lula, as well as the $8.6 million investment in the Wildhorse Saloon in 2016 and the announcement of Blake Shelton’s upcoming Ole Red entertainment venue set to open next year on Nashville’s Lower Broadway.
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