The Music City Center, built because Nashville had outgrown the old convention center, is now in that same position – not big enough to handle all the business coming its way. More space is needed because groups are already booking events through 2033 and even a decade beyond.

“We turn down four conventions for every one we book because we don’t have the space,” says Charles Starks, president and CEO of the mammoth downtown facility that opened in May 2013. “Our future bookings are incredibly bright.

“We believe there is a high probability we could sign a 2040 piece of business before the end of this calendar year. If not, we’re going to certainly sign some past 2033 here soon.”

But unlike the 30-year-old, now-demolished Nashville Convention Center – or the Titans’ current Nissan Stadium that will be replaced by a $2.1 billion enclosed stadium in 2027 – the Music City Center won’t be going anywhere except up.

Like all the other downtown construction underway, the Music City Center was built with the idea of going vertical with at least one more level, possibly two.

“I don’t have the availability (for more bookings). That’s why we’ve got to explore expansion opportunities and do that soon. We’re turning away more (conventions) than we’re booking because we don’t have any open. Now, that’s a nice problem to have,” Starks says.

“But I think the folks of Nashville and this region have got to understand they are a big part of why we’re doing that. It’s not because we’ve got the greatest sales team in the world. We think we’re really good, but you’ve got to have a desirable location. That’s first — and we’ve got that.”

Butch Spyridon, CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp., agrees that going vertical is the correct solution for the Music City Center’s need for more event space.

“Well, the only negative thing you could say about the success of the Music City Center is we’ve outgrown it,” Spyridon says. “The demand for the city is so high and the need for more exhibit space or just being able to do two at a time. It’s worked beyond all of our expectations. Now that’s a polite complaint, but we’ve outgrown it.”

Starks says his facility, which held its first national convention in June 201, was intentionally built with the idea that additional levels could someday be added to extend its shelf life. And that now is the time to start thinking about expanding.

“We’re committed and the board’s committed that we continue to start thinking about – and now start maybe a little more aggressively thinking about – what the future looks like as far as additional capacity for us,” Starks says.

“One of the things that we did with this building that was not able to be done in the former Nashville convention center, is that while you don’t always think about stacking on top of the convention center, there are some conventioners that have done that.

“This was designed that if we ever had to add another floor to it – or two more floors to it – that was doable,” Starks reveals. “So, we can always go on the site that we have.

“What happened with the old convention center was you couldn’t expand on the existing structure. You couldn’t do that and there was no more land, nowhere to go.”

Starks is also exploring the option of buying nearby properties.

“Now, there’s still some land available (around the Music City Center). Everybody who’s got land around us knows that if they’re interested in selling, to call Charles,” he says with a laugh. “We’re happy to talk about stuff that would make sense for us around us.

“But, yeah, it’s time to start thinking about what the future expansion looks like. And this time we’ve planned ahead enough to say, ‘look, we can’t find more land. At least we’ve got a way to expand here.’ So I think it’s got much longer than a 30-year shelf life in this case. We certainly hope that’s the case.”