Spotlight On: Burke Nihill, President & CEO, Tennessee Titans
April 2024 — Tennessee Titans President & CEO Burke Nihill is overseeing a transformative period of growth for the NFL franchise amid a larger shift in Nashville and Middle Tennessee. He shared perspectives on the current state of the sports and entertainment industry in the region and how the new Nissan Stadium contributes to the city’s East Bank plans. “This truly is “Music City,” and we think of Nissan Stadium as Nashville’s biggest stage, with the new Nissan Stadium offering even greater potential to host the highest caliber of events,” he said.
How does the new Nissan Stadium contribute to the city’s plans for the East Bank?
It has been incredible to watch the city roll out its plans for the East Bank and see how very intentional they have been in planning Nashville’s next great neighborhood. I have every reason to believe that as long as we, as a city, focus on the software as much as the hardware – that is, the character and quality of the development as much as the buildings themselves – we’ll live into this generational opportunity.
Throughout the stadium design and planning process for the new Nissan Stadium, we’ve rallied around the phrase “Win on Character.” Nashville is a character-rich city with a vibrant soul and spirit. We want the stadium to reflect the character of its community, and I’m confident that the stadium we deliver will do just that.
When do you see Nashville realistically hosting a Super Bowl?
It’s not an exact science, but typically the NFL has wanted to see a team play at least two NFL seasons in its new building before it hosts a Super Bowl. So by that logic, Super Bowl LXIII in Feb. 2029 would realistically be our first opportunity. We’re excited to express our official interest in major events like the Pro Bowl, Combine, Draft and Super Bowl, and the NCAA Men’s Final Four. WrestleMania has already stated that they hope to be in Nashville in 2027, so we’ve made great progress already.
How would you describe the current state of the sports and entertainment industry in Middle Tennessee?
This truly is “Music City,” and we think of Nissan Stadium as Nashville’s biggest stage, with the new Nissan Stadium offering even greater potential to host the highest caliber of events. We’re excited for the major music events to come at the new Nissan Stadium, and also looking forward to the opportunities it will offer songwriters and rising artists through staging in our new outdoor plaza, in-bowl stage, and other areas throughout the building.
In many ways, sports and entertainment have been the core catalyst for the boom we have experienced over the past few decades. When the Titans chose to call Nashville home, the organization saw massive potential and promise in not only the city, but most importantly its people and culture. That decision has proven to be one with a lasting impact for our organization, but also for the greater community.
What are some key initiatives through which the team is giving back to the community?
The Titans have always felt a tremendous responsibility to our Tennessee community and neighbors. ONE Community is our philanthropic platform that reaches many of Nashville’s most underrepresented and marginalized communities with a focus on three areas – Opportunity, Neighborhoods and Education. Our ONE Community partners, including Metro Nashville Public Schools, the Nashville Business Incubation Center, Tennessee State University, and many others, have already supported us in those areas through programs focused on providing resources to under-resourced businesses and entrepreneurs, literacy development in our future leaders, and mental health resources across our community. ONE Community is designed to be a living, breathing program that can evolve as we learn more about the needs of our neighbors.
One program that I’ll draw attention to is our partnership with Metro Trustee Erica Gilmore, the NAACP, and the Urban League of Middle Tennessee, called Keep Nashville Home. Through our work together, we launched an awareness campaign that encouraged eligible senior citizens to apply for housing assistance programs. We’ve been working with them on this program for a couple of years now, and I’m proud of the work we continue to do together to support some of our longest-tenured local residents.
Who are some of your major local partners, and how do you cultivate such successful relationships?
In keeping with the thriving nature of Nashville, we are fortunate to be surrounded by a wide variety of incredible businesses and local leaders – both newer to the market and steeped in Middle Tennessee history. Since 1997, Ascension Saint Thomas has been a phenomenal partner to our organization both on and off the field. Nissan continues to be a core part of our Titans family, most recently joining us as the naming rights partner for the new Nissan Stadium. We also partner with key local and national voices like Pinnacle Financial Partners, Bridgestone Americas, Inc., FedEx, LG Electronics, Verizon, and more. We always look to align ourselves with brands who have a similar vision for the city and state we call home. Sharing that common ground makes establishing and growing those partnerships feel more like cultivating a home team rather than a business deal.
What would be considered a wishlist in terms of milestones and achievements for the franchise by 2030 and what does the organization need to prioritize to achieve them?
Being relentlessly ambitious sits at the core of our DNA as an organization, so setting our sights on the highest accomplishment just comes naturally. Winning a Super Bowl and putting that Lombardi trophy in our trophy case is at the top of that list. We exist to bring home championships while serving Titans fans and the Tennessee community. If we do those few things with great intentionality, passion, and determination, I will consider it a tremendous success. I say it often, but we are in the memory-making business, something we take very seriously. We will make memories with our community at service events, mark milestones with our fans on Sundays and most of all create a legacy Nashville can be proud of for many decades to come.
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