We are so grateful that World Rugby has given the United States the hosting rights for Rugby World Cup 2031 (Men's) and 2033 (Women's)

Right now, there are 24 potential host cities for 9 venue spots at the competition. Nashville is one of those candidates.

Here's why Nashville deserves to be one of the 9 host cities for both World Cups to not only bring in major revenue but expand the sport.

1.) Major sports town supporting 3 major league sports franchises

1. Tennessee Titans (NFL)
2. Nashville Predators (NHL)
3. Nashville SC (MLS)

2.) Hosted other major sporting events

1. 2021 FIFA World Cup Qualifier Match
2. 2019 NFL Draft (600,000 fans attended over 3 days)
3. Annual Music City Grand Prix (100,000 fans attended in first year)
4. 2022 NHL Stadium Series (68,619 fans attended)
5. 2017 & 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup matches
6. 2016 NHL All-Star Weekend
7. 2019 NASCAT Champions Week
8. SEC Basketball Tournaments (Men's & Women's)
9. And more!

3.) Finalist to be host city for 2026 FIFA World Cup

4.) World-class amenities

1. Nissan Stadium (NFL)
   1. Bigger than NFL stadiums in Seattle, San Francisco, Boston, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, Miami, Phoenix, and Chicago (all vying for host city bids)
   2. New stadium being built soon to upgrade facility (announced 2022)
2. GEODIS Park (MLS)
   1. Recently built in 2022
   2. Can serve as a practice or other facility during the tournament

5.) Has international airport with nonstop flight from England and almost all major U.S. metro areas

6.) Sister Cities of Nashville program has strong cultural ties with cities in Tier 1 rugby nations

1. Belfast, Northern Ireland
2. Caen, France
3. Kamakura, Japan
4. Mendoza, Argentina
5. Tamworth, Australia 

7.) Accessible for fans out of state - within 650 miles of more than 50% of America's population

8.) Major brands based in metro area that can contribute high-end sponsorship dollars

1. Corporate HQ in Nashville Region
   1. Amazon
   2. Asurion
   3. Bridgestone Americas Inc.
   4. Community Health Systems
   5. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc.
   6. HCA Healthcare Inc.
   7. ICEE
   8. iHeartMedia
   9. Mitsubishi Motors
   10. Nissan North America
   11. Tractor Supply
2. Corporate Operations in Nashville Region
   1. AT&T Inc
   2. Dell
   3. Deloitte
   4. GEODIS
   5. Lowe's Cos. Inc.
   6. Randstand
   7. Schneider Electric
   8. State Farm Insurance
   9. The Kroger Co.
   10. TRG Customer Solutions
   11. UBS
   12. Verizon Wireless
   13. Walgreens

9.) Top tourist destination in USA

1. #1 - Where to travel in June (May 2022) by National Geographic
2. #5 - Best Destinations for City Lovers in the US (Mar 2022) by Trip Advisor
3. Top 10 - Friendliest Cities in the U.S. (Feb 2022) by Conde Nast Traveler

10.) Has 53,189 hotel rooms in metro area

11.) Has good amount of bars, restaurants, and other entertainment options (ex: Broadway Street)

12.) Growing rugby scene

1. USA Rugby South's Panther Academy based in the metro area
2. Adult and youth rugby clubs in Central TN (primarily in metro area): 25+
3. High school players signed to play collegiate rugby at D1 schools since 2020: 17+ (boys and girls)

13.) Grow the game and exploit an underrated market

If you are a Tennessee sports fan, sign this petition to get one of the world's biggest events to come to our capitol city. For job creation, local businesses, and major investment, we need the Rugby World Cup that can help generate millions of dollars in economic impact.