Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan When it crossed the goal line the crowd of 59,069 roared Two years earlier a crowd that size the largest ever to see a soccer game in Tennessee would have been unthinkable The team’s origins were in a grassroots supporter-led team Eventually moving up to the second division the newly named Nashville SC played its first friendly February 10 2018 also against Atlanta United By then Nashville was already ticketed for MLS a whirlwind process that went from an idea to a real MLS team on the field in less than four years NASHVILLE’S PARTY Though Nashville fans didn’t have to wait long for a team excitement had quickly built up in the Music City Nashville’s first MLS game turned into a huge party Fans started gathering near Nissan Stadium early in the day grilling food and kicking around soccer balls It’s no surprise that in a city known for making music musicians served as the opening act With fans still making their way to their seats local band Judah and the Lion played a pregame concert On the setlist was the song they wrote with the team to serve as the official club anthem Never Give Up on You 6
Soccer fans in Nashville found different ways to get fired up for the club’s first MLS match Hey brother hey sister I’ll never give up on you were the opening lyrics Fans joined in singing the anthem Then they joined in on another anthem The Star-Spangled Banner The crowd’s participation grew as the song went on with some fans holding up their team scarves The players took notice LET MY PEOPLE GOAL 7
Amazing atmosphere from them Zimmerman said It was fun watching the anthem as we were sitting in a tunnel and just watching the crowd singing that and getting involved and that’s only going to grow Finally guitarist Lzzy Hale performed an opening riff from among the Backline Nashville’s supporters section The improvised guitar solo was to become a regular part of Nashville match day Different musicians would be invited each home game to get the crowd excited with some guitar licks THE KICKOFF With the pregame festivities done it was time for the main event Atlanta United was a great test for Nashville They were one of the league’s best teams They also were a model for an expansion team Atlanta qualified for the playoffs in its first season in 2017 and won the MLS Cup the next year Atlanta’s potent scoring attack quieted the 60,000 fans just nine minutes into the game Midfielder Ezequiel Barco found himself with space in the middle of the field He shook free of a defender and rifled a shot past Nashville keeper Joe Willis A small gathering of United fans who made the trip from Georgia roared in a corner of the stadium 8
Randall Leal looks for room to maneuver against Atlanta United But the new club did not go away Nashville settled down and pushed for a tying goal Randall Leal and Dom Badji each had attempts That hard work paid off with Zimmerman’s breakthrough goal in the 28th minute That got the stadium 9
