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| Curb Event Center | |
|---|---|
| Name | Curb Event Center |
| Location | Nashville, Tennessee |
| Opened | 2003 |
| Owner | Belmont University |
| Capacity | 5,000 |
Curb Event Center is a multi-purpose indoor arena on the campus of Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. The venue serves as a hub for collegiate athletics, concerts, commencements, and community gatherings, hosting a range of performers, speakers, and sporting competitions. It has become associated with regional cultural life and national touring acts, drawing visitors from across Tennessee and the southeastern United States.
The center opened in 2003 amid a period of expansion for Belmont University and coincided with Nashville's growth as a center for country music, gospel music, and music industry enterprises such as Sony Music Nashville, Universal Music Group Nashville, and Warner Music Group Nashville. Its development involved collaboration with local institutions including the Tennessee State Museum-area planning groups, the Nashville Predators organization during arena consulting phases, and civic leaders associated with the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. Early programming featured appearances by artists represented by labels like Big Machine Records and events coordinated with organizations such as Nashville Symphony, Country Music Association, and Tennessee Performing Arts Center. Political events attracted figures from the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, and local Tennessee General Assembly members. The center has also been used for academic ceremonies linked to National Association of Schools of Music accreditation milestones and partnerships with institutions such as Vanderbilt University and Tennessee State University.
Designed to accommodate athletics, performances, and assemblies, the building incorporates features influenced by arenas like Bridgestone Arena and university facilities such as Rupp Arena and Allen Fieldhouse. The bowl-style seating and acoustical treatments draw on practices developed in venues like Radio City Music Hall and Madison Square Garden. Facilities include a hardwood court similar to surfaces used in NCAA Division I men's basketball venues, retractable seating comparable to that in Cameron Indoor Stadium, VIP suites inspired by Staples Center hospitality, and rehearsal spaces used by touring acts associated with Live Nation and AEG Presents. Backstage infrastructure supports production needs akin to the requirements of productions at Grand Ole Opry House, with loading-dock access, production offices, and green rooms that have hosted touring crews linked to acts on Billboard charts. The center's design responds to building codes observed by American Institute of Architects-registered firms and local Metro Nashville Planning Commission standards.
Primary tenants include the Belmont Bruins men's basketball team and Belmont Bruins women's basketball team, with other use by Belmont's Belmont University Department of Music and campus organizations such as Student Government Association (Belmont University). The venue hosts commencement ceremonies for graduates alongside guest speakers from institutions like Harvard University, Princeton University, Yale University, and public figures from the United States Department of Education. It has been booked for touring productions promoted by Ticketmaster, AEG Presents, and Live Nation Entertainment, as well as non-profit events organized by groups such as United Way and Habitat for Humanity. Conference sessions tied to entities like Society for American Music and Association of American Universities have used the center for plenary sessions.
Performers who have appeared include country stars affiliated with Capitol Records Nashville and Columbia Nashville, contemporary acts represented by labels such as Big Machine Records and Arista Nashville, and Christian music artists from Sparrow Records and Essential Records. The arena has hosted NCAA conference tournaments involving teams from the Missouri Valley Conference era and exhibition games against programs like Duke Blue Devils men's basketball, Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball, North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball, and mid-major opponents such as Wichita State Shockers and Butler Bulldogs. Speaker events have featured politicians on tours with ties to Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee cycles, media personalities from CNN, Fox News, and NPR, and authors published by houses such as Penguin Random House and HarperCollins. Benefit concerts have included collaborations with organizations like Nashville Relief Fund and artists affiliated with The Recording Academy.
Situated in the Belmont University campus near Charlotte Avenue and within walking distance of the Belmont Mansion historic site, the center is accessible from major corridors such as Interstate 440 (Tennessee), U.S. Route 31, and U.S. Route 70S. Public transit connections include services provided by Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority routes and regional shuttles that link to hubs like Nashville International Airport and transit nodes near Music Row (Nashville). Parking and neighborhood access interface with city planning efforts involving the Nashville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and zoning administered by the Metro Nashville Planning Commission. Nearby cultural institutions include Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Frist Art Museum, Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Schmerhorn Symphony Center.
The venue is owned by Belmont University and operated through the university's athletics and event management offices, coordinating with entities such as Ticketmaster for ticketing, security partnerships with Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, and production contractors like SMG (company) alumni firms and independent production companies that have worked at Bridgestone Arena and Nissan Stadium. Operational planning follows guidelines common to collegiate venues affiliated with NCAA regulations, risk management protocols used by International Association of Venue Managers, and contractual frameworks comparable to agreements used by Live Nation Entertainment. The center's scheduling balances university athletics with touring circuits promoted by organizations such as AEG Presents and community events organized with partners like Nashville Public Library and Tennessee Arts Commission.
Category:Belmont University Category:Indoor arenas in Tennessee Category:Sports venues in Nashville, Tennessee