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The University of Tennessee is looking to partner with a grocery store for naming rights to Lindsey Nelson Stadium. UT is looking for someone who can invest $25 million to further ongoing construction efforts and new amenities. These improvements aim to amplify the fan experience while attending Tennessee baseball games.
“Yeah, we get that we could partner with any kind of brand, but we just feel that a grocery store is a great way to go,” said Robert Fuller, a representative of Tennessee Athletics. “Lindsey Nelson Stadium at the Kroger Center or at the Publix Center or even the Food Lion Center just has a great ring to it.”
Lindsey Nelson Stadium underwent recent construction changes prior to the beginning of the 2024 season, including over 900 new permanent seats along left field as well as over 120 new premium field level seats along the first and third base lines.
With the influx of revenue that the $25 million naming rights deal would bring, the stadium will further its 2025 renovation plan. This includes mezzanine level suites that will feature indoor and outdoor seating, large counter spaces for food service, refrigerators, a mini kitchen and a lounge area with a 70-inch flat screen TV.
“These changes have been discussed for a long time, and we are thrilled that this naming-rights deal would give us the opportunity to make these changes sooner than any solutions to the university’s parking or residence hall problems,” Fuller said. “After all, our fans come first. The most important goal is to have one of the most premier college baseball venues in the nation.”
Beyond UT, the local grocery stores are competing for the naming rights, forcing the university to weigh its options.
“Beneath our green logo, we truly bleed orange and white,” said Johnathan Walker, president of Publix’s Knoxville Division. “Our University Commons location is only steps away from campus and so many students park in our lots, so it was only time we took the step forward to partner with the university’s athletic programs.”
“As a longstanding corporation that has supported Knoxville shoppers for generations, I feel we deserve this partnership,” said the state Tennessee’s Food Lion CEO, Bill Hollingsworth. “Our company can provide the local support that our competing larger chains simply cannot. After all, this partnership shares a common goal — for grocery shoppers to benefit, Tennessee baseball fans to benefit and ultimately the whole Knoxville community to benefit.”
UT and Tennessee Athletics are graciously overwhelmed by the support that the community has given them.
“We are extremely lucky to have several partners within our community who share our commitment to this university and its athletic program as well as the Knoxville community,” Fuller said. “We are privileged to represent the University of Tennessee and are extremely proud to work in coalition with these grocery stores to foster a relationship that will have a profound impact on both organizations.”
