Expansion and Renovation Planned for 1994 Addition
Historic Auditorium to Remain Unchanged
NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 26, 2014--
Ryman Hospitality Properties (NYSE: RHP), owner of the Ryman Auditorium,
Nashville’s iconic National Historic Landmark and world renowned
performance venue, today announced an approximately $14 million planned
expansion and renovation of the Ryman’s 1994 addition. The historic
auditorium, restored in 1994, will remain unchanged.
The proposed expansion and renovation will improve the Ryman Auditorium
experience for both tour guests and concert attendees and will include
an event space featuring a new, state-of-the-art daytime tour
attraction, which will provide a unique way to relive the Ryman
Auditorium’s storied past. The space will be available in the evenings
for private functions. Other amenities include a dedicated café space,
enhanced food and beverage services throughout the building and an
expanded retail area with interior and exterior access. Renovation plans
also include a new box office, additional restroom facilities and larger
lobbies.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam joined Colin V. Reed, chairman, chief
executive officer and president of Ryman Hospitality Properties, Sally
Williams, general manager of the Ryman Auditorium and Opry Entertainment
vice president of business and partnership development and Steve
Buchanan, president of the Opry Entertainment Group for today’s
announcement at the Ryman Auditorium.
“The tourism industry adds more than a billion dollars annually to our
state’s tax base, making it critical to fostering sustained economic
growth in Tennessee,” Haslam said. “Continued investment from
hospitality leaders like Ryman will further improve our state’s unique
tourist offerings and attract even more visitors to Tennessee.”
In a statement made prior to today’s press conference, Nashville Mayor
Karl Dean said, “There’s no place in the world like Music City, and we
owe a great deal of that unique identity to the city’s iconic landmarks,
particularly the Ryman Auditorium,” Dean said. “This expansion is a
welcome addition to our vibrant downtown area. I thank Ryman Hospitality
and Colin for this investment and all they’ve done to help make
Nashville a top destination.”
The planned renovation and expansion are part of Ryman Hospitality
Properties’ ongoing investment in Nashville and its attractions
business, which recently experienced record-breaking tour and concert
ticket sales.
“The Music City brand has never been more powerful than it is today. We
strongly believe that we are at the very front end of a meteoric rise in
both national and international tourism thanks largely to the
ever-increasing popularity of country music and the “Nashville”
television show,” Reed said. “We are making this investment now so that
the Ryman Auditorium is better equipped to accommodate the current and
future demand we are seeing from both a tourism and concert attendance
perspective.”
The project is expected to break ground in late summer 2014 with a
planned opening in early June 2015. The Ryman Auditorium is slated to
host a full calendar of events and tours throughout construction.
Williams said, “Just as Steve Buchanan and the company’s management team
did in 1994 with the original Ryman Auditorium expansion and reopening,
we are thoughtfully planning for the future of one of the most historic
and revered places to hear and perform live music. The enhancements will
dramatically improve the pre-and post-show experience and allow visitors
to share in our 122-year history in ways that are not possible within
our current space. With no renovations taking place in the historic
auditorium, we expect little to no disruption in our operations
throughout the construction phase, which we anticipate will be complete
in time to welcome our guests during next year’s CMA Music Festival.”
Reed continued, “Before we decided to move forward with our plans for
this expansion, we felt that it was important to have the support of the
artist community who played a vital role in making the Ryman Auditorium
the internationally-celebrated venue it is today. We have shared our
plans with several artists who have a strong connection to the Ryman
Auditorium and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
Maintaining the historic integrity of the Ryman Auditorium was a high
priority and we have selected two Nashville-based firms who share in
that vision, Hastings Architecture Associates and R.C. Mathews
Contractor, who served as the general contractor for the original 1994
Ryman Auditorium expansion. The proposed design will preserve the
historic 5th Ave. entrance skyline and original Ryman Auditorium
aesthetic while providing some much needed room to grow.”
Also in attendance at today’s press conference were Grand Ole Opry
members and multi-Grammy Award-winning artists Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs
and Marty Stuart.
“The Ryman has always been in the best hands since this company has
taken over its operation,” said Vince Gill. “This is an important
renovation, but the heart this company has shown for the Ryman’s
preservation is even more special.”
"To me, there is no place like The Ryman Auditorium,” said Ricky Skaggs.
“Whether I'm performing, seeing a show or just walking around in the
building, it's home to my heart.
That's why I'm so excited about the new expansion The Ryman is getting.
It's gonna be great for the fans and the performers. The Ryman is The
History Of The Future!”
“The Ryman Auditorium has seen countless changes in the Nashville
landscape since its doors opened in 1892,” said Marty Stuart. “It has
somehow been a standard-bearer all the while, moving forward with the
times. The new expansion to the “Mother Church of Country Music” is a
fitting reflection of the global interest in our city as well as the
world of country music. It’s exciting to watch the continuance of the
legacy of one of America’s most cherished buildings.”
About Ryman Auditorium
A National Historic Landmark, the Ryman Auditorium was built as a
tabernacle by Captain Thomas G. Ryman in 1892, served as the home of the
Grand Ole Opry from 1943-74, and was completely renovated in 1994. The
Ryman is open for tours during the day and at night offers a wide
variety of entertainment performances, just as it has for over 120
years. The venue was voted the 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 Pollstar
Theatre of the Year. Ryman Auditorium is owned by Ryman Hospitality
Properties, Inc. (NYSE: RHP), a Nashville-based REIT that also owns and
operates the Grand Ole Opry, and 650 AM WSM. For more information, visit www.ryman.com.
About Ryman Hospitality Properties
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (NYSE: RHP) is a REIT for federal
income tax purposes, specializing in group-oriented, destination hotel
assets in urban and resort markets. The Company’s owned assets include a
network of four upscale, meetings-focused resorts totaling 7,795 rooms
that are managed by lodging operator Marriott International, Inc. under
the Gaylord Hotels brand. Other owned assets managed by Marriott
International, Inc. include Gaylord Springs Golf Links, the Wildhorse
Saloon, the General Jackson Showboat and The Inn at Opryland, a 303-room
overflow hotel adjacent to Gaylord Opryland. The Company also owns and
operates a number of media and entertainment assets, including the Grand
Ole Opry (opry.com), the legendary weekly showcase of country music’s
finest performers for nearly 90 years; the Ryman Auditorium, the storied
former home of the Grand Ole Opry located in downtown Nashville; and 650
AM WSM, the Opry’s radio home. For additional information about Ryman
Hospitality Properties, visit www.rymanhp.com.
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Source: Ryman Hospitality Properties
MEDIA:
Brian Abrahamson
Ryman Hospitality
Properties
615-316-6302
babrahamson@rymanhp.com
or
Lisaann
Dupont
Ryman Auditorium
615-458-8715
ldupont@ryman.com