Titan Up

Official Review by Chad Minton, Stadium Journey Regional Correspondent

Football is king in Tennessee, and you’ll immediately understand why when you attend a game at LP Field to see the Tennessee Titans play. When the Titans first came to Nashville from Houston, they enjoyed a great home-field advantage that had them start 16-0 before losing their first game at home.

Over the 13-plus years that LP Field has been opened, it has been used as a great venue for football. In addition to it being home to the Tennessee Titans, and it has also been the site of the Music City Bowl since it first opened in 1999. However, it is clear that LP Field has become a little outdated in comparison to other NFL stadiums. Its capacity sits somewhere in the middle of seating capacities in the NFL.

The seats can also become a little cramped, and the stadium definitely lacks the flashiness of the newer breed of NFL stadiums. With some of the cosmetic issues aside, you’ll definitely enjoy your NFL experience at LP Field. The fans are some of the kindest you’ll probably run into on your NFL journey, and the beautiful view of the Nashville skyline during the Monday Night Football game I attended capped off what was overall a great experience.

Food & Beverage    5

There are a number of options for even the pickiest of fans, and you'll be set if you're a beer lover. It was very surprising to see all of the unique beer options.

Some of the food choices that stand out include barbecue sandwiches, chicken strip baskets, buffalo chicken sandwiches and Papa John's pizza. All of this ranges from $4 to $7, which is a very fair price for an NFL game.

There are plenty of non-alcoholic drink options as well, with the all-you-can-drink soda for $10 being a nice offer for the extra-thirsty fan.

I attended a game on a cold night, and it was cool to see coffee and hot chocolate vendors roaming the stands. I'm sure a lot of chilly fans appreciated that option.

Finally, Logan's Roadhouse is a popular restaurant in the South that is a big sponsor of the Titans. You'll find their personal concession stands scattered throughout the stadium, and they offer a limited menu from the restaurant.

Atmosphere    5

One thing that really makes the atmosphere impressive is the two gigantic high-definition screens on each end of the field. These images are so crisp that I felt as though I could reach out and touch the animated snowflakes that were being shown to set the Christmas mood on the night I attended.

The speaker system also offers an exceptional sound quality.

If you're a big stats person, then you'll be in heaven when attending a game at LP Field. They give you all the in-game stats you could need throughout the game. I'm one of those stats gurus, so I really enjoyed getting all of those numbers fed to me throughout the game.

The team also utilizes the giant video screen to post a live twitter feed from fans. My favorite tweet of the night was one fan who so elegantly stated "Why did I wear shorts to the Titans game??"

There was also a ton of energy running throughout the stadium on my visit, thanks to it being a Monday Night Football game.

The atmosphere is everything you could hope for at an NFL game.

Neighborhood    3

Luckily for visiting fans, you don't have too far to go at all to enjoy Nashville after walking out of the gates of LP Field. In fact, you don't even necessarily have to get in your car to make your way to Broadway and check out all of Nashville's famous nightlife.

However, there aren't many attractive dining options right outside of LP Field. Once you make your walk across the Cumberland River on the pedestrian bridge, you'll be surrounded by plenty of dining options like Hard Rock Café.

There are a few low-end hotel options as well, but once again, you would be better off heading across the Cumberland River to find nicer hotel choices.

It's a little surprising that a few bars or restaurants have not sprouted up closer to LP Field during its 13-year lifespan. You kind of get the notion that LP Field is off on its own and away from all of the fun things to do when leaving the game.

Fans    4

These loyal fans have been through a lot of mediocrity the past few seasons, but it hasn't broken their spirit when cheering on their Titans. My experience was no exception. The fans were vocal, energetic and passionate. When the game was finally sealed off for a Titans win late in the fourth quarter, a loud roar ripped through the stadium that was still about 80 percent full.

It was a little disheartening to see the middle section empty out considerably after halftime. The seats in this section are red, so it stood out that these seats were empty in the 2nd half of the game. You can't fault the fans too much. After all, this team had a below-.500 record when I visited, and it was a very ugly game from the start.

The fans are overall a nice bunch. Like any fan base, there are plenty of knuckleheads. However, they're few and far between. These fans definitely deserve to see a winning product return to the field.

Access    5

It would be hard to miss LP Field when driving through downtown Nashville. Nashville isn't a huge city as it is, and LP Field sits right along Interstate 24 that loops downtown.

There are plenty of signs that direct you to the main parking lot, along with the secondary parking lots that are all around the immediate area.

The restrooms are ample, and there was never a long line on my visit, despite it being a nearly packed house.

It also helps the traffic flow inside the stadium that there are elevators that take you up to the top levels. The choice of the elevator or the ramps seems to cut the traffic in half.

Return on Investment    4

Like most NFL games, tickets are not going to come cheap. You can get upper level seats for around $40 to $50. That's not too bad even for an NFL team that is struggling to win games.

Parking will usually cost about $20, unless you want to park a fair distance away and walk. You might find a parking lot for $10 if you choose that route.

Beer prices are obviously steep, but they're steep everywhere. As stated earlier, the concession stands are fairly priced.

For two people, you could enjoy yourself for under $100 at LP Field. With the popularity that the NFL enjoys today, that's a pretty good bargain for even a casual NFL fan.

Extras    3

There was a designated driver sign-up booth that caught my eye during my trip to the concession stand. It is great to see that stadium personnel are actively trying to save lives at these NFL stadiums where fans do not always drink responsibly.

An extra point goes to the funny video montage that was shown while the ref was doing the booth reviews. It's always enjoyable to laugh at the refs' expense.

Finally, I always love when venues embrace their local heritage. At the end of the third quarter of the game I visited, Johnny Cash's famous "Folsom Prison Blues" was played over the speakers. It got the fans amped up as crunch time approached, and almost everyone in Nashville loves Johnny Cash.

Final Thoughts

As of now, the experience at LP Field is not suffering, despite the current struggles of the Titans organization that hasn't seen the postseason since 2008. The fans are still very engaged, as though the Titans are battling for a division crown. Not every NFL team can make that claim. It probably helps that Titans fans aren't spoiled with three or four professional teams like some cities have.

It is very clear that football will continue to be the hottest ticket in town for years to come, and LP Field serves as a solid venue that maybe just needs a few more cosmetic improvements.