Marty Dickens, Music City Center Authority chairman, confirmed the Center won't be ready in time for two sizable conventions booked for 2013.
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"Neither (the Grand Ballroom or Grand Atrium will) be at completion (by March 2013)," Dickens said. He noted the construction schedule was simply not complete when the two conventions were booked. He said the construction company is working around the clock to remain on schedule because there's substantial financial penalty if they do not. Nashville's Convention and Visitor's Bureau is helping the American Trucking Association's Technology and Maintenance Council and the Hearth, Patio and Barbeque Association find other venues for 2013. Both conventions have already committed to return to Nashville in future years. "The largest convention we've booked is in 2015, the National Rifle Association. It is estimated they'll have 48,000 people," Dicken's told Crieve Hall News editor Pam Simmons. "In 2014, we'll have the AA Womens Final Four that'll have 20 thousand people." Dickens said the Music City Center already has commitments from 65 conventions booked from 2013 through 2026 and there are serious negotiations with more than 100 more. Nashville hotels have 600,000 "room nights" already reserved toward their goal of a million booked before opening day for the center. "We knew we'd get some bad press but that kind of goes with it," Dickens said, referring to a article in Nashville's daily newspaper. "We get bad press all the way, that kind of goes with the game. We are trying to do the right thing for the city." He said that overall, The Tennessean has been supportive of the Music City Center. Read recent Tennessean story here Music City Center Authority Chairman Marty Dickens (right) and Kiwanis President Betty Lou Burnett seemed to enjoy George Armistead's (left) poetic introduction of Dickens: "Welcome please, a wonderful person, a Nashvillian extraordinaire, Kiwanians embrace smiling Marty, show him we really care.
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