Once again the ineptness of MT is exposed

[MTFNBY5]

I hate to post this here since it doesn't relate to FB but it doesn't really fit in the "Around the water cooler" forum either.

You have to have been out of pocket over the last few days to have not seen the hype over the opening of the new amphitheater at the riverpark in N'ville. Over and over it has been mentioned that it is "just the right size" for concerts which are too big for The Ryman/TPAC and would have trouble filling The Tire Barn (Bridgestone) and that it has been a desperately needed venue.

WTF is The Murph. I realize that there is not a plethora of nightlife on Greenland Drive and that drinking is not legal in the building. That said, the POB at MT seemed to give up on attracting concerts once the larger facility was built on lower broad which all the huge names gravitated to quickly. There are acts which are just right for The Murph, it is available year round and weather is not a problem.

MT should be reaping the financial rewards of hosting events and in so doing bringing people on campus who would rarely, if ever, visit.

Rant over!

 

[RaiderDoug]

Just playing devil's advocate here, but a couple of ideas:

A lot of the time, you have scheduling issues. You have 2 basketball teams and other events taking up probably around 50-75 of the dates in the winter.

In the summer - who wants to attend a concert in an old basketball gym when you have the whole outdoor amphitheater thing going on.

We're 30+ miles from Nashville, farther from the outlying suburbs. Not exactly the easiest place to get to on a weekday night from most of metro Nashville.

You miss the whole downtown vibe on MTSU's campus that you have going on in Nashville. Hit up a couple of bars or restaurants, wander along 2nd ave, and then go over and watch a concert - seems like a better night than driving to Murfreesboro, seeing a concert in a gym, and then leaving.

I googled the new Riverpark theater thing - it looks like it will be a heck of a lot more fun for most folks than the Murph.

 

[blueboro007]

I just don't think there is anyone at the university responsibility for bringing events like this to campus. I was chairman of the special events committee when the Murph was opened and we had the biggest name acts come in. Harold Smith was head of special events and did a great job in the day but after he retired nothing has happened.

 

[TeKEraider]

Too far from Nashville to make an impact. Municipal filled that smaller venue niche as well as The Woods. This was more about putting something downtown. We didn't miss an opportunity because there was no realistic one there.

 

[asuhatesme]

I hate to post this here since it doesn't relate to FB but it doesn't really fit in the "Around the water cooler" forum either.

You have to have been out of pocket over the last few days to have not seen the hype over the opening of the new amphitheater at the riverpark in N'ville. Over and over it has been mentioned that it is "just the right size" for concerts which are too big for The Ryman/TPAC and would have trouble filling The Tire Barn (Bridgestone) and that it has been a desperately needed venue.

WTF is The Murph. I realize that there is not a plethora of nightlife on Greenland Drive and that drinking is not legal in the building. That said, the POB at MT seemed to give up on attracting concerts once the larger facility was built on lower broad which all the huge names gravitated to quickly. There are acts which are just right for The Murph, it is available year round and weather is not a problem.

MT should be reaping the financial rewards of hosting events and in so doing bringing people on campus who would rarely, if ever, visit.

Rant over!

Sorry, but you're just off base. There was no missed opportunity because there was no opportunity.

In the last 4-6 years, Nashville's concert scene has fundamentally changed. In the past, many argued it was over-saturated and most of the big name shows skipped town altogether. Nashville had very few top flight concerts.

Now, it is a must-hit for every major tour and Bridgestone just got voted arena of the year by poll star. Initially Murphy Center was a great concert venue for a combination of newness, acoustics, and size. Then it was still a mainstay because it was the only suitable indoor arena in Middle Tennessee. That ended in 1996 when the arena downtown opened. Factor in Nashville suddenly becoming one of the top tourist destinations in the country and that's where we are.

No amount of advertising, begging or pleading was going to change that fact. Nashville's got the cache, Nashville's got the nightlife, and now Nashville has all venue sizes covered in a 1/4 mile radius.

Outside of anything geared almost exclusively for students, Murphy Center's concert days are behind her. That's not MT's fault. It's no one's fault, really. Just the world we live in.

In a way, I'm happy. That's just one less hurdle to finally renovating upper level seating and getting some suites in.

 

[T2Tool]

Has Murphy Center hosted any concerts since the remodel? I always heard the old ceiling was what made the acoustics so good. Was wondering if still the same.

 

[SpaceRaider]

...You miss the whole downtown vibe on MTSU's campus that you have going on in Nashville. Hit up a couple of bars or restaurants, wander along 2nd ave, and then go over and watch a concert - seems like a better night than driving to Murfreesboro, seeing a concert in a gym, and then leaving.....

This is one thing I wish I could see develop around greenland and Middle Tennessee or maybe down Old Lascassas Pike. Some bars, restaurants, maybe a small hotel or two. Maybe its not economically viable one or two by itself, but if you could have a small group of places that make sense for a college town atmosphere. We don't have to compete with downtown Nashville for concerts, but I sure would like to see something more than one old scroungy looking bar across from the nw corner of campus.

 

[blueboro007]

Has Murphy Center hosted any concerts since the remodel? I always heard the old ceiling was what made the acoustics so good. Was wondering if still the same.

You are correct, the ceiling tiles were there for acoustics and I have noticed now at the basketball games you have a hard time understanding the PA announcer as the sound just disappears. Of course, with Tolbert you can't understand him in any venue.

 

[MTFNBY5]

Not much to disagree with in the posts since my initial entry. And those comments that I might have a disagreement with I do understand that it's more from a perspective than from a clear right and wrong issue. Understand that I am older than most posters, that I don't need pre and post concert entertainment or tailgating at a FB game to enjoy those events. IMH(generational)O a concert or a game should be able to stand on it's own without all the peripheral "crap".

I do think, however, that there are some positives* for The Murph as a concert venue and with the correct promotion (spin) certain events would be appropriate and just the right size. It seems that once MT was no longer the largest venue in the area we just gave up and possibly eliminated the position responsible for bringing events to campus as mentioned by a poster.

As for our location several points: We often mention that M'Boro is part of the greater Nashville (whatever) area. The leaders of The Boro. and MT need to act like it. Yes, we are not in "downtown" N'ville but we are closer (timewise) to many in the population centers of Williamson and Wilson Co. and closer both in distance and time to those living in the more rural areas south of The Boro. The opening of 840 has made many areas (Columbia, Dickson, Hendersonville, Gallatin, etc.) of the mid-state much closer to M'Boro than before it opened.

One additional comment: One reason highly promoted in the brochure, clearly not the only one, to join the BRAA when I did was the ability to have priority on tickets to events on campus. That selling point has gone by the wayside since we no longer host concerts.

*less traffic congestion (both before and after the event), easier parking (possibly free), shorter walk to the event, on the beautiful (?) MT campus, in vibrant Murfreesboro, some people have preference in going to areas not in a downtown area (that explains why some cities build their professional sports venues in the suburbs), etc.

 

[Raiderclyde]

I miss the days when the "Historic Murphy Center" hosted A and B level concerts and events. Nowdays, the "Historic Murphy Center" might host a Easter Worship Service for a local church. Then there's the Antique Show and the conference event with Tim Tebow (it drew maybe about 2,500) a few weeks ago--that's about it for the type of events. Need 65,000 there's Nissan Stadium (LP Field); Need 18,500 there's Bridgestone (Nashville Arena); Need a 7,000 venue, there's Municipal (some call it miserable auditorium); need 4,500 then there is Allen Arena (Lipscomb) and the Curb Center at Belmont. Fontanel and the new amphitheater cover the outdoors since Starwood is now long gone. Starwood really helped usher out the MC in major concert business in the late 1980's/early 1990's. There's not much niche left with all of those options, but we need to be more creative--somehow.

 

[MidTnBlues]

As a guy who has played music venues since I was sixteen it really sucks seeing the fall off in the music crowds that would crowd Greenland. Not really on topic but had to get that off my chest.

 

[mtsportsfan]

My family attended a Jason Aldean and Lady Antebellum concert at the MC about 4-5 years ago. Probably had 4000 in attendance and we had a great time so close to the stage. It would have been better if the Jumbotron were used.