A friend of mine figured prominently in two recent stories of great significance to our community.

It was no coincidence that Butch Spyridon was quoted in both front page articles in the Tennessean:

One announced plans for a world-class Music City Music Festival, and the other presented the report for the Music City Center, Nashville’s hoped-for new convention center.

In my opinion the reason that these two fit so well together is (as I have mentioned in previous columns here) due to:  Music, country music in particular, because it is the one thing that you can’t get anywhere else in the world.  It is the singular thing that makes Nashville unique.  This “uniqueness” is important in attracting visitors as well as conventions.   Mayor Bill Purcell’s presentation several weeks ago about Nashville’s “branding” as Music City, fits hand-in-glove as our city heads toward a more dynamic future.

Spyridon, president of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau, has a part in all of these because he is a marketing professional with an eye toward the larger picture and the bigger agenda— he sees what it is going to take for Nashville to be competitive on a national and international scale.  My comments here are not related to Spyridon alone. Yet, I view him as the crucially vital link between the outstanding leaders who volunteer their time and the professional who has one overriding goal: to generate revenue and jobs for Nashville by enticing visitors to come and enjoy our city and, by the way, help underwrite the cost of the facilities they utilize. The Mississippi-raised, Vanderbilt-educated tourism pro’s commitment to Nashville is one of the reasons I feel so positive about where Nashville can place itself in this competitive world.

Some observations about the two major stories:

MUSIC CITY FESTIVAL—I realize it is still in its infancy as far as planning goes, but having those call its possibilities “world class” is encouraging.  Early next fall, Nashville will celebrate the opening of a world-class facility, when the first notes are heard in the Schemerhorn Concert Hall.  While I enjoy, yet am not an aficionado of classical music, I do know a little something about performance halls.  Folks, you can take my word for it, when this hall opens it will take its place among those considered to be the finest in the world.  Plus, this acoustical treasure house will be available for concerts of all genres. I urge Nashvillians of all walks of life and tastes to make plans to enjoy a performance there as soon after the opening galas are over and this grand musical gem begins to display its versatility.  I urge the planners of the Music City Festival to be emboldened by “the Horn,” to keep their sights high and their goals truly sky high.  The rest of the world deserves this from the unbelievable array of talent Nashville possesses.

MUSIC CITY CENTER—Thanks to Marty Dickens, Randy Rayburn and Ralph Schulz for leading the impressive cadre of volunteers who gave countless hours conceiving the well- thought-out option for Nashville’s future convention business.  There will be much discussion and much debate about their concept, but one message that comes through loud and clear is that Nashville either needs to get back into the convention business or get out…to remain in the game, it’s going to take a major facility to compete.

One message that didn’t get fleshed out enough in news reports, is that our current convention center will by PAID OFF next year from funds generated primarily by visitors.  I’m sure there were those who said that would never be done when the plans were unveiled for the original facility two decades ago.

The discussions and debates will undoubtedly lead to some changes in the plan as presented, but I encourage everyone to avoid the inevitable kind of compromise that would put Nashville in a less-than competitive arena…either do it right or don’t bother doing it.  I was pleased that the Nashville Design Center has been brought into the mix, because a structure encompassing such a downtown footprint must be fully considered publicly to assure that the design results in a world-class edifice that enhances Nashville visually and reflects its musical soul.

Middle Tennessee is fortunate to have the Gaylord Opryland complex here…an additional “unique” convention facility—one that offers a top-of-the-line, under-one-roof  hotel and convention center unmatched in the eastern U.S. (their concept is now being duplicated in other parts of the country).  I truly believe that the great job Opryland does can coexist with a burgeoning downtown convention center. A combination of the two could open up even greater horizons for both.  I’m sure the Gaylord management team knew exactly what they were doing when they went into markets such as Orlando, Dallas and Baltimore where major convention centers doing a thriving business already exist.

One of the quotes in the summary of the Music City Center’s report struck me as an apt way of expressing some of what I’ve been trying to say.  It came from the executive director of the American Hospital Association, lamenting the fact that their convention had outgrown Nashville. He said:  “I realize that Opryland has adequate space, but I favor downtown with its music history and venues that are unique in the United States.”

We are unique.  We are moving in an exciting direction to showcase and take advantage of this uniqueness.

That should be enough to keep my friend Butch busy for quite some time to come.

Bo Roberts is a Nashville marketing consultant and managing partner of Roberts Strategies.