First Horizon Park - Nashville Sounds
- Dave Cottenie
- Aug 2
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 4
Photos by Dave Cottenie , Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43
First Horizon Park 19 Junior Gilliam Way Nashville, TN 37219
Year Opened: 2015
Capacity: 8,500
Music in Hit City
Nashville, Tennessee has a long history with baseball. The Music City has been home to several minor league and Negro League teams. The current Nashville Sounds were founded in 1978 as an expansion team in the Double-A Southern League. The popularity of baseball in Nashville was obvious from the start, as the expansion team led the entire Minor Leagues in attendance in its first year.
By 1985, they advanced to the Triple-A American Association. The dissolution of this league in 1998 had the Sounds bump over to the Pacific Coast League and eventually the International League in 2021. The Sounds have won league titles in 1979, 1982, and 2005 and have been the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers since 2021.
First Horizon Park is the home of the Sounds and is one of the newest ballparks at the Triple-A level, opening in 2015. It replaced Herschel Greer Stadium, which was home to the Sounds for 36 years. First Horizon Park is built on the location of historic Sulphur Dell, a minor league park that was used from 1885 to 1963. First Horizon Park is one of the premier Triple-A ballparks and definitely adds to the argument that Nashville should be considered for an expansion Major League Baseball team.
Food & Beverage 4
First Horizon Park has a strong concession experience with a variety of locations and menu items. A number of the concession stands make use of giant iPads for ordering, similar to what is found in many McDonald’s locations. On the date of this review, the system seemed to work well, and concession lines moved quickly. Some of the concession highlights included Sulpher Dell Slices, Music City Grill. Smokehouse BBQ and Hot or Not Chicken. Along with all of the expected ballpark food items, local items fans may want to consider include the Nashville Hot Chicken and Pork Chop Sandwiches.
Pepsi products are the soft drink of choice at the park. First Horizon Park also has a terrific selection of local craft beer as well as domestics and other alcoholic beverages.
Atmosphere 5
First Horizon Park is one of the best ballparks in all of Minor League Baseball. Not only does it offer an easy 360-degree path around the park on the inside, but there is also an easy path on the outside. The centerfield gate, right by the parking garage, offers a bronze statue of Track and Field Coach Ed Temple, who coached 23 Olympic medalists and 40 Olympians. Placards outlining the history of baseball in Nashville can be found along the path as well as the archeological history of the site of the former Sulphur Dell.
The home plate gate is the main entry and is found at Junior Gilliam Way. The exterior is smart-looking with silver paneling surrounding a black and white sign. The entry is surrounded by light colored brick. Upon entry into the concourse, fans will find some different Nashville Sounds or Hit City markings. Immediately beside the main entry are profiles for the players of the four retired numbers, Jackie Robinson, Skeeter Barnes, Tim Dillard and Don Mattingly. Signage for other significant Nashville players like Junior Gilliam and Dusty Rhodes is found hanging throughout the concourse.
The concourse is open concept, and it is possible to walk just about the entire 360 degrees of the park and not miss any of the action. A variety of seating options are available. The main seating area is two-tiered with plenty of 100 level seats under the overhang of the 200 level, providing lots of shade. There are patio tables beyond right field, berm seating perfect for catching home runs, and Adirondack chairs around the edge of the berms. The Band Box is beyond centerfield and is good for events. First Horizon Park also has plenty of spots to see the game from outside of the stadium, including the Third and Home terrace and the neighboring apartments.
Of course, the most iconic item in the ballpark is the massive, guitar-shaped videoboard. First Horizon Park has its own cistern system, wiffleball park, and even a mini-golf course.
The gameday production at a Sounds game is solid. The mascot, Booster the Rooster, a Nashville Hot Chicken, takes part in promotions on the field along with the in-game host. Also, the mascot race is uniquely Nashville with The Man in Black, Dolly, and Reba rushing to the finish line.
Neighborhood 5
First Horizon Park is located in the North Capitol neighborhood of Nashville, part of downtown. There are several spots within walking distance for fans to go to get pre- or post-game food or drink. Some options include Geist Bar & Restaurant, TailGate, Von Elrod’s Beer Hall, Jonathan’s Grille, and numerous options in the Nashville Farmers Market. Germantown is just to the north and also has several options. Heading to Broadway will provide a whole host of other options.
There are a few other sporting options in Nashville. These include Nashville SC, Nashville Predators, and Tennessee Titans. Nashville also has many college options. These include Belmont Bruins, Lipscomb Bisons, and Tennessee State Golden Tigers, and Vanderbilt Commodores football, basketball, and baseball.
Nashville is one of the best tourist destinations in the country. Known as Music City, Nashville has a ton of country music-centric tourist options. These include the Country Music Hall of Fame, Ryman Auditorium, and The Grand Ole Opry, to name a few. There is always live music in one of the establishments on Broadway. The Gaylord Opryland is also something that should be seen. There are also many tourist options within walking distance of the park, including the Tennessee State Capitol, Tennessee State Museum, Nashville Farmers Market and Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park.
There are a ton of hotels within walking distance of the park also. TownPlace, The Capitol Hotel, and DoubleTree are a few options.
Fans 5
The Nashville Sounds have a solid fan base. For the 2026 season, at the time of writing, the Sounds averaged over 6,500 fans per game. They ranked 3rd in the International League in attendance. In the previous season, the Sounds averaged over 6,700 fans per game and ranked 4th. The fans in the stands are knowledgeable and loud at all the right times.
Access 4
First Horizon Park is located in the North Capitol neighborhood of Nashville. It is on the south side of Junior Gilliam Way between John Lewis and 3rd Ave. It is just over 1 km east of I-65/I-40 and 2 blocks west of the Cumberland River. Getting to the park is not too difficult, being so close to the interstate. There are a few local parking garages and lots. Preplanning parking is a great plan. For those wishing to take public transit to the ballpark, there are bus stops along 2nd Ave, east of First Horizon Park. Fans should consult the WeGo Transit website for fares, schedules, and maps.
Getting around the ballpark is very easy as the concourses are wide and there is a full, 360-degree path. The washroom facilities in the ballpark are good.
Stadium Journey recognizes that the security protocols for major sporting events are in constant flux. Stadium Journey highly recommends consulting the Nashville Sounds and First Horizon Park websites for the latest security procedures, including bag policy and prohibited items.
Return on Investment 5
Nashville Sounds tickets start at $11.75 for General Admission, berm seating. Seats start at $17.65 and go up to $41 for club seats. Day-of-game purchases will cost an extra couple of bucks. Concession prices are not too bad at First Horizon Park, and parking will cost a few dollars. The product on the field in Nashville is solid, and the overall experience is great. Fans will leave the park having been fully entertained and not out a mortgage payment or more!
Extras 3
An extra mark for Junior Gilliam Way, the street behind home plate. Junior Gilliam was a local product who had a 27-year major league career that started in the Negro Leagues. He was the 1953 Rookie of the Year for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
An extra mark for the Sounds embracing the full history of Nashville baseball and putting it on display.
An extra mark for a very well-stocked team store.
Final Thoughts
Time will tell if Major League Baseball decides to descend on Nashville as an expansion destination. Until that time, the Nashville Sounds are more than filling the baseball void in Music City, in one of the best parks in Minor League Baseball.
