NASHVILLE, TN — July 19, 2025 — Construction at the site of the Tennessee Titans’ new enclosed stadium has been temporarily shut down after workers discovered a noose — a symbol widely recognized as a racist threat — at the Nashville job site this week.

Metro Nashville Police spokesperson Kristin Mumford confirmed in an email Friday that detectives are investigating the incident.

The Tennessee Builders Alliance, the joint venture leading the massive stadium project, immediately suspended all construction activities, citing the seriousness of the incident and the need to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone working on-site.

“We are requiring additional antibias training for every person on site, and work will resume only after a site-wide stand-down focused on inclusion and respect,” the alliance said in a statement.

The builder group called the act “racist and hateful,” adding that it had launched an internal investigation and is offering a reward for information that helps identify who left the noose.

“We are outraged and deeply saddened by this act,” the statement continues. “We are working in close partnership with our client, trade partners, and unions to ensure every worker understands that racism and hate have no place here. Everyone deserves to feel safe, welcomed, and treated with respect and dignity.”

The Titans broke ground on the state-of-the-art enclosed stadium in February 2024. The estimated $2.1 billion venue is set to replace the team’s current open-air Nissan Stadium, with completion scheduled for early 2027 — in time for the Titans to kick off their 2027 NFL season in the new facility.

More Than Just a Stadium

Once complete, the new stadium is expected to seat about 60,000 fans and host a range of major events, including Super Bowls, college championships, and year-round entertainment that could boost the local economy.

Construction has continued alongside preparations for the upcoming NFL season. The Titans report to fall camp at their Nashville practice facility next Tuesday as training ramps up ahead of the preseason.

Zero Tolerance and Worker Protections

The incident underscores ongoing challenges the construction industry faces when it comes to maintaining safe and respectful workplaces, especially on large, high-profile projects where diverse labor forces come together.

Union leaders, project managers, and the city of Nashville have all echoed support for the Builders Alliance’s swift response. Many are calling for stronger measures to prevent bias-motivated harassment on job sites.

Additional security and site monitoring are expected as the investigation unfolds. Project officials say the pause will not impact the overall stadium timeline, but the focus right now is on ensuring “this never happens again.”

Originally reported by The Associated Press in West Kentucky Star.