Downtown Nashville's not so "sticky," per new report
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A view of downtown Nashville during CMA Fest 2025. Photo: Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images
Downtown Nashville is not particularly "sticky" among local residents, according to a new report that gauged interest in urban centers around the world.
Why it matters: The report focused on interest among locals, many of whom intentionally avoid downtown Nashville.
State of play: The "stickiness" metric combines measurements of how often residents say they visit downtown, and how long they say they stay there.
Zoom out: Detroit has the "stickiest" downtown of the 34 U.S. cities included in the Gensler Research Institute report.
- Nashville ranked 21st.
Reality check: Downtown Nashville is the heart of the city's tourism engine, so it is a socializing and entertainment hub for hundreds of thousands of visitors.
- Locals, not so much.
Between the lines: Public safety has become a major issue downtown, with growing concern over excessive drinking and crime.
- A recent poll found 53% of residents feel safe most of the time or all of the time downtown. But a significant chunk — 43% — said they occasionally or always feel unsafe.
Catch up quick: Tourism boosters have taken steps to try and address the rowdy, chaotic vibe that drives many locals away.
- City leaders have also worked to reign in party buses, driving hot tubs and other forms of transportainment that crowd downtown streets.
- Last year, the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. launched an ad campaign urging visitors to embrace "respect and responsibility" downtown. Banners asked them to "keep Nashville beautiful."
The other side: There were bright spots in the report. Downtown Nashville got strong marks from respondents for being memorable, vibrant and authentic.
- But the city scored lower when it came to downtown's aesthetic beauty, its welcoming atmosphere and safety.
The big picture: Nashville isn't an outlier. Among all cities included in the report, Gensler found that fewer than half of residents visit their central business district weekly, while less than a third spend recreational time there.
How it works: The report gathered feedback from 35,000 residents of 75 cities worldwide via an online survey conducted from July 8 to Nov. 4, 2025.
Tell us: What would inspire you to spend more time downtown? What if any changes would make the area more appealing?
- Email [email protected] to let us know.