Music City Baseball

What Music City Baseball does

Music City Baseball, LLC is a Nashville, Tennessee-based private organization established in 2019 to secure a Major League Baseball expansion franchise for Nashville under the proposed Nashville Stars brand. Operating as DBA "Nashville Stars," the entity functions as a franchise bid committee rather than a traditional operating business, led by Managing Director John Loar and Chairman Alberto Gonzales with a 1-10 person staff. The organization has assembled an unusually high-profile advisory and investor group spanning music (Justin Timberlake, Darius Rucker, Luke Combs, Kane Brown), baseball operations (Dave Dombrowski, Dave Stewart, Don Mattingly), and local business and sports leadership (Eddie George, Bob Kendrick, Lee Barfield, Bobby Bones).

Its core "products" are branded Nashville Stars merchandise, including New Era caps, throwback jerseys, and commemorative bats sold through its own Shopify storefront and through partnerships with Ebbets Field Flannels, Old Hickory Bat Company, and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. The proposed franchise would be the first MLB team to adopt a name from the Negro Leagues, honoring teams that played in Nashville in the 1940s, and includes a revenue-sharing and stadium-space partnership with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

The business model combines (1) limited merchandise sales at varying price points through DTC e-commerce and partner resellers, (2) equity investments from high-profile individuals and the Nashville Baseball Investment Group (NBIG), a diverse ownership fund chaired by Patrick H. Johnson of Meharry Medical College that has committed $250,000 with 50% of certain merchandise proceeds directed to the NLBM, and (3) a stated private financing model for stadium development with no public tax burden. The organization has partnered with Lincoln Property Company (March 2025) and Moody Nolan for site selection and master planning of a proposed East Bank sports and entertainment district, but does not yet operate a stadium, sell tickets, or generate recurring franchise revenue.

Name

Music City Baseball

Legal name

Music City Baseball, LLC

Website

https://mlbmusiccity.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Music City Baseball is a Nashville-based organization pursuing an MLB expansion franchise called the Nashville Stars, the first MLB team proposed to adopt a Negro Leagues name. It sells branded merchandise and has assembled celebrity investors and advisors while developing a private stadium plan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Sports Franchise Bid Organization

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113)

SIC

Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Baseball & Softball Leagues (MPAKAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports Community Relations & Grassroots Program Management (MPAKAKAJ), Team & League Branded Merchandise Retail (Non-Apparel) (CRAMAOAF)

Keywords

• MLB expansion bid
• Professional sports franchise
• Team merchandise sales
• Negro Leagues brand
• Sports community events

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Merchandise Sales: The organization generates revenue through the sale of branded merchandise including New Era Nashville Stars caps, throwback jerseys, and commemorative items through their Shopify storefront and partnerships with Ebbets Field Flannels and Old Hickory Bat Company. A portion of proceeds supports the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
2. Investment Capital: Music City Baseball raises capital through equity investments from high-profile investors and the Nashville Baseball Investment Group (NBIG), a diverse investment fund established to ensure African American ownership participation.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Music City Baseball is an organization pursuing a Major League Baseball expansion franchise for Nashville, Tennessee, to be branded the Nashville Stars — the first MLB team to adopt a name from the Negro Leagues. The organization sells Nashville Stars branded merchandise (New Era caps, Ebbets Field Flannels throwback jerseys, Old Hickory Bat Company bats, and Topps collectible cards) through its Shopify storefront and partner channels, with a portion of proceeds supporting the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. It also operates a community engagement and marketing website (mlbmusiccity.com), email newsletter, and event programming (watch parties, cultural celebrations) to build grassroots support for the franchise bid.

Product overview

Music City Baseball operates as a community-based organization focused on securing an MLB expansion franchise for Nashville. Its primary offerings include the Nashville Stars branded merchandise (caps, throwback jerseys, bats) sold through a Shopify e-commerce platform, and a content/marketing website (mlbmusiccity.com) that provides organizational updates, press releases, and email newsletter subscriptions. The organization does not offer a software product or platform; instead, it functions as a sports franchise bid committee with merchandise and communication channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nashville Stars Merchandise Shop Official e-commerce store selling Nashville Stars branded merchandise including New Era caps, throwback jerseys, commemorative items, and partner-produced products; a portion of proceeds supports the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Targeted at Nashville-area baseball fans and prospective future franchise supporters.
• Ebbets Field Flannels Throwback Jerseys and Ballcaps Authentic wool throwback jerseys and ballcaps honoring the original Nashville Stars Negro Leagues team, handmade to order from historical fabrics and sold through both Ebbets Field Flannels and the Nashville Stars Shopify store; 50% of MCB net proceeds benefit the NLBM. For baseball historians, Negro Leagues supporters, and Nashville Stars brand enthusiasts.
• Old Hickory Bat Company Commemorative Bats Co-branded limited-edition baseball bats celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Negro Leagues, produced with Old Hickory Bat Company and sold through both the Music City Baseball and NLBM websites with 50% of MCB proceeds benefiting the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. For collectors and baseball heritage enthusiasts.
• Topps Nashville Stars Rookie Cards Nashville Stars rookie cards produced in collaboration with Topps Trading Cards and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, creating collectible merchandise that connects the proposed franchise to baseball history. For trading card collectors and Nashville Stars brand supporters.

Quantifiable outcome

• Projected 2.5-3 million fans per year attending home games
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Eddie George / Moody NolancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 October 2020Former Titans running back and Heisman Trophy winner joined as board member and Chair of Real Estate Development Advisory Group. Collaborating with Moody Nolan (largest Black-owned architecture firm in the country) to design family sports and entertainment district anchored by proposed MLB stadium.
• Ebbets Field FlannelsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 October 2020Partnership to create authentic wool throwback jerseys and ballcaps honoring the original Nashville Stars Negro Leagues team. All products handmade to order from historical fabrics, with 50% of MCB net proceeds benefiting NLBM.
• Old Hickory Bat CompanyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 September 2020Co-branded limited-edition baseball bats celebrating 100th Anniversary of the Negro Leagues. Products sold on MCB website and NLBM website with 50% of MCB proceeds benefiting the museum.
• Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 31 August 2020Partnership to create co-branded bandanas for Pets and Vets program, with half of proceeds donated to ARF and half to Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Demonstrates community engagement and charitable giving commitment.
• Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 April 2020Formal partnership including revenue sharing from Nashville Stars merchandise sales, cooperation on marketing and social media efforts, and commitment to provide physical space in the proposed stadium facility for NLBM exhibits and educational programming.
• Moody NolancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning architecture firm, largest Black-owned architecture firm in the country, handling master planning for proposed sports and entertainment complex. Known for Wintrust Arena (Chicago), Jacob K. Javits Convention Center expansion (NYC), and Music City Center (Nashville).
• Lincoln Property CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to secure location for future Major League Baseball expansion stadium development in Nashville, announced March 25, 2025.
• Topps Trading CardsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to launch Nashville Stars rookie cards in collaboration with Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, creating collectible merchandise connecting the proposed franchise to baseball history.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Portland Diamond Project: Active MLB expansion bid group pursuing a Portland franchise. Directly comparable to Music City Baseball as another city-based group competing for the same MLB expansion slots with no operating franchise, merchandise-led revenue, and celebrity/local-investor coalition.
• Big League Futures (Charlotte MLB bid): Charlotte-area MLB expansion bid led by former MLB executive Don Beaver. Directly comparable as another competing expansion market pursuing the same MLB franchise award, with similar pre-revenue bid-vehicle structure.
• Montreal Baseball Group: Montreal-based effort to return MLB to the city. Comparable as another pre-franchise bid group pursuing MLB expansion or relocation, sharing the same pre-revenue, coalition-driven structure as Music City Baseball.

Regional players

• Nashville SC: MLS expansion franchise that joined Nashville in 2020. Closest precedent for a major North American professional sports league entry into the Nashville market and a direct test case for the city's appetite for big-league sports attendance and spending.
• Nashville Sounds: Minor League Baseball team (Triple-A) already operating in Nashville. Comparable as the incumbent baseball property in the same market, providing baseline data on Nashville baseball demand and a possible affiliate relationship if MLB expansion is awarded.

Broad incumbents

• Nashville Predators: Established NHL franchise in Nashville. Comparable as a major professional sports operator in the same market, demonstrating how a big-league franchise performs in Nashville and competing for the same entertainment and sponsorship dollars.
• Tennessee Titans: NFL franchise based in Nashville. Comparable as the largest incumbent professional sports property in the Nashville market, setting attendance and pricing benchmarks relevant to the eventual Nashville Stars franchise economics.
• Athletics (Las Vegas): MLB franchise that relocated to Las Vegas. Most recent example of MLB franchise movement; directly comparable as a data point on MLB's current franchise strategy and a competing destination for any potential expansion consideration.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/NashvilleStars
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCtdINtcU4Av8h3lNrG47qBg
• Facebookfacebook.com/nashvillestars
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nashvillestarsbaseballclub
• Instagraminstagram.com/nashvillestars

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Music City Baseball