| Lesson Seven: Planning a Trip to the CMA Music Festival | |
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Updated 03/19/09
The Venues
LP Field
LP Field, home of the NFL Tennessee Titans, is the location for the star-packed, main stage evening shows. Expect the very best stadium concert staging with state-of-the-art lights, sound and big screens to capture all the excitement.
With reserved seating, fans won't miss a single minute of music. And don't forget your camera! The popular photo line is back-a longstanding tradition where fans get up close to the stage for photos of their favorite stars. (Note: The photo line starts at the main level and you will climb down the stairs to the field, walk across in front of the stages to take your photos, then have to climb back up the stairs on the other side. These stairs are not for those the couch potatoes like myself.)
Riverfront Park Stages
One of the CMA Music Festival's coolest places to hear the hottest music during the day is the Riverfront Park Stages. The concert stages on the west bank of the Cumberland River at Nashville's popular Riverfront Park offer a rich assortment of artists from both major and independent labels representing a broad range of musical interests and styles from classic to alternative Country and bluegrass.
These shows are included in the four-day CMA Music Festival package; however, single day Riverfront Park Stages tickets have been available to the public in previous years, and you can expect they'll have them on sale again after maybe April 2007. They can be purchased on the day of show at the gates at Riverfront Park. Children age six and under are free.
The Nashville Convention Center
The Nashville Convention Center will once again host the popular exhibits and autograph sessions during the day. NCC offers great access to neighboring Downtown attractions, hotels, restaurants as well as a comfortable, air-conditioned environment to meet your favorite stars. The the CMA Music Festival Exhibit Hall is the world's biggest gathering of Country artists meeting their fans. In 2005, look for more stars-both Country and other celebrities-and additional activities that will make your the CMA Music Festival experience truly unique! Keep in mind the venue is large, but all the booths are on one floor. There are escalators as well as elevators and stairs between the levels. One important note. I found this out the hard way. The entrance to the Convention Center is on Commerce and 5th. I didn't realize this when I was walking there the first time, and I walked down 4th to Broadway expecting that the entrance was going to be on Broadway, only to have to walk up 6th and then across Commerce to get to the entrance.
The doors to the Convention Center open at 9:00 am, but they open the doors at 8:00 pm, and you can enter as far as the Lobby, so you're out of the hot sun. It's recommended to be in line at LEAST an hour prior to this if you want to have the opportunity to be in the first lines for autographs. Even if you are there at 7:00, the line may already be half way around the block, so be prepared for a long wait.
As mentioned below, pre-printed tickets are handed out first thing in the morning, so once they're gone, there is no room in line for autographs for that star that day. Most artists hand their tickets out first thing, but some may hand them out at different times of the day.
First and foremost, put on a pair of comfortable shoes. The Convention Center is a large venue and remembering to pick out comfortable footwear and clothing will enhance your overall experience. Suntan lotion is not necessary at this particular venue. With the convenience of an indoor facility comes the luxury of air-conditioning. the CMA Music Festival attendees often find refuge from the heat in the Wrangler® Exhibit Hall. Also, food and beverages will be available in several locations throughout the Nashville Convention Center. No outside food or beverages are allowed at any the CMA Music Festival venue.
One of the best parts about the the CMA Music Festival Exhibit Hall is the opportunity to get that long anticipated autograph from your favorite artist. the CMA Music Festival does encourage exhibitors to use a general system for long autograph lines in order to keep lines running smoothly and efficiently for you, the fan! Hopefully this system will allow for the greatest number of autographs to be signed within a reasonable time frame.
Each morning, the exhibitors hand out a certain amount of pre-printed tickets from their booth. For those not able to get a ticket, always have your camera ready to take a picture, as you never know what star could show up next! The artist has a limited time to sign autographs, so please keep in mind that not everyone attending the CMA Music Festival is guaranteed to get an autograph.
It is extremely important when trying to get in line not to run or push your fellow attendees. We appreciate your thoughtfulness in this matter.
Photo Line
One of the most popular traditions is the photo line. At the evening shows at LP Field, a line forms starting at the East concourse at Section 104. Only fans with four-day passes may enter the line. Actually, there are two lines. When you get in the line, be sure to keep moving. Event staff will be on hand to make sure someone doesn't hold up the line. There is also a photo line at the Riverfront Park stages as well. Note: At LP Field, you might want to find out when your favorite artist is playing and lineup in the photo line about 45 min to 1 hour before they will perform.
Information Booths
You can find information booths in the following five areas:
Sommet Center (Registration Area)
Riverfront Park - directly outside the gates
Nashville Convention Center- Main Lobby
Sports Zone
Family Zone
ATM Machines
If you run low on money and need to withdraw some from your bank account, you can find ATM machines in the following locations:
Nashville Convention Center - Main Lobby
LP Field in the lower level in the north end zone and in the club level on both sides as well as one in the Titan's Team Store
Second Avenue (north of Broadway)
MORE Tips
TRIPS63 from the AboutCountry Forums provided the following advice:
Festival Site
The festival site is spread out over downtown. While it is a fairly compact site, Nashville is built on hills. Again, be prepared with very comfortable shoes and you may want to start walking 30 minutes four or five times a week just to get into shape. The Convention Center at the corner of 5th Avenue and Broadway (north) hosts the artists booths. There is usually some television show at the Sommet Center (the arena) on the Wednesday. It's across the street from the convention center (south of Broadway). The Riverfront Park stages, which feature "day" shows, are also totally outside like LP Field's "night" shows. The park is located on the river (hence the name) at the end of Broadway at First Avenue. The Family Zone is also located in that area. I believe that lower Broadway, and parts of First and Second Avenues are blocked off for the event.NOTE: Numbered avenues are on the west side of the river beginning with First at the river and going higher as you continue west down Broadway, then West End Avenue. Numbered streets (First Street) are on the east side of the river starting at the river/Coliseum. Broadway is the splitter for the Avenues North or South designations and Main Street is the splitter for the Streets North or South designations. That's more important for the downtown / avenues.
Hotels and Rental Cars
This one is a personal preference and should be based on what you plan to do that week. If you are only going to go the festival stuff and possibly the softball game, then spend the extra dough for the downtown hotel. You can walk to all the festival sites and ride the shuttle to the stadium and take a taxi to Greer Stadium. Parking is extra downtown and very expensive. Anywhere from $5 to up to $15 plus tax a day. Plus, hotels also charge you to park overnight at their hotel. There is a airport shuttle that's about $18 per person roundtrip.On the other hand, if you are going to a lot of the fan club events which are spread out all over the place you will probably want a rental car. At that point, get a cheap hotel in a good neighborhood and buy a car pass. I think you will be able to park there during the day and do the other stuff downtown. Check the CMA Music Festival Website about that.
Another suggestion, if you don't want to rent a car at the airport, and only want a car for a day or two, perhaps just for the time before the CMA Music Festival stars, you can check with Enterprise Rentals, as they have several locations all over Nashville. And they will even pick you up. You should verify where you will want to be picked up at with them, to make sure it's an area that they cover.
Good Neighborhoods
Safe areas include the hotels right around the airport along Donelson Pike, the airport end of Elm Hill Pike and the other hotels in the adjacent streets. The Opryland area is about 16 miles from downtown and also safe. The Downtown hotels and most of those located along the West End corridor near Vanderbilt University and the hospitals are workable. Most outlying suburbs such as Brentwood, Rivergate, Antioch would also be workable.DO NOT under any circumstances do hotel/motels on Murfreesboro Road (unless it's way out in Antioch), Spence Lane, the Spence Lane end of Elm Hill Pike, Dickerson Pike and north Nashville. These are dangerous high crime areas. If someone stays in one of the these areas, please do not leave anything of value in the room if you're not there or in the car at all.
Stadium Seating
My personal preference is the lower level west side seats for anything in that stadium whether concerts or football games. I'm not sure anyone will be able to see much on the grass once you get back so far. Lower level east side is also okay. However, the sun will still be up probably during the first part of the performances and those on the east side stand a really good chance of more sunburn. You are a bit more protected on the west side.Note: Lower level west side includes Sections 129 - 136.
Special Thanks!
My special thanks goes to Mike A., Amy Shannon, Lee Jeddrey, TRIPS63, Joe Land, and Jan Duke About's Nashville Guide, for helping me compile some of the information contained here.
If you want some more tips, I've included my Top 10 Tips for Planning and Enjoying CMA Music Festival 2005
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