KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Neyland Entertainment District is taking its next step towards development along the Tennessee waterfront, Tennessee Athletics announced Thursday.
The University of Tennessee Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White initiated the exploration of a public-private partnership aimed at the development of a first-in-class entertainment district spanning the Tennessee River waterfront near Neyland Stadium.
After issuing a Request for Information for the entertainment district, the next phase approved by the state is to issue a Request for Proposals.
Through this, the university is looking to engage a master developer to develop, finance, operate, and maintain these mixed-use assets through a public-private partnership in which the Developer would ground lease University-owned land, Tennessee Athletics said.
"Our vision for this transformational project is one step closer to reality," White said. "We have seen a tremendous response from a wide array of top developers to be a part of this extraordinary opportunity to create the Neyland Entertainment District. We are incredibly excited about the next step in the process, and bidders submit their final proposals for this massive project that will positively impact our entire campus and the city of Knoxville. The Neyland Entertainment District will be a massive boon to America's College Sports City."
According to the university, the RFP will further define their lease requirements, detail proposal requirements and outline their process for evaluating proposals and selecting a developer to enter a partnership with UT.
The district would be anchored by a planned hotel adjacent to the stadium's south end. The initial plans for the project would improve the outside aesthetics of Neyland Stadium and "strengthen campus' connection with the Tennessee River." Plans for that include building the boutique, full-serve hotel that includes for-sale condos and conference space, according to UT.
They also planned to build a "tabletop" above the G10 parking garage for tailgating, restaurants, retail and family-friendly entertainment. That parking lot is located near Neyland Stadium, the College of Communication and Information building, and Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center.
UT said they have engaged program management firm Brailsford & Dunlavey as a guiding partner in the Neyland Entertainment District.