VenuesNow 2026 All-Star Honoree: Ashlee Stokely

Ashlee Stokely
Head of Stadium Operations & Experience
Nissan Stadium / Tennessee Titans

BEST SHOW YOU SAW THIS YEAR?
“Alan Jackson’s final show for the history, Bruno Mars for the energy.”

The new $2.2 billion Nissan Stadium in Nashville is scheduled to open in 2027 ahead of the Tennessee Titans’ 2027 NFL season. The enclosed stadium is being built next to the existing open-air stadium and has already positioned the city for the NFL’s biggest events, including Super Bowl LXIV in 2030.

Ashlee Stokely, Head of Stadium Operations & Experiences, has been at the center of the rapid transition from aging outdoor stadium to state-of-the-art sports and live entertainment destination.

She notes the challenge of putting on a successful event season this summer while the new stadium and calendar are taking shape.

“We grew and are continuing to grow our teams significantly to ensure we meet the moment and plan to use the remaining events in our current stadium as a training ground, preparing everyone for what’s ahead in the new one,” she says.

The shift will be dramatic for everyone.

“Beyond just the pace of it, it’s a mindset shift moving from an outdoor facility to an indoor one,” explains Stokely. “An indoor stadium is essentially an oversized arena and that changes everything. Every detail that used to disappear into open air is now on display. Sound, sightlines, finishes – it all gets amplified indoors, so we’ve had to raise our own bar across the board.”

Stokely said hospitality is the foundation.

“It’s part of a mantra we rally around – we expect to be world-class,” she says. “We’ve doubled in size over the past five years specifically to make sure no detail goes uncovered. We don’t control the artist on stage or the product on the field. What we do control is the environment and the experience around it and we’re passionate about making sure that part is the best it can possibly be.”

One example is fully frictionless concessions.

“This technology lets guests grab what they want and go, no lines, no friction,” offers Stokely. “It’s a great example of using tech to give people back the thing they actually came for – time to enjoy the event!”