The Grand Ole Opry House has suffered extensive damage due to flooding that has overtaken most of the Opryland area of Nashville, including the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Opry Mills mall. But the show must go on, and management is temporarily moving the Grand Ole Opry to the Ryman Auditorium and War Memorial Auditorium.
The Tuesday Night Opry performance scheduled for tonight (5/4) will take place at the War Memorial Auditorium. Weekend performances will move to the historic Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville. Thursday’s performance of Opry Country Classics will remain at the Ryman as previously scheduled. Both the War Memorial and the Ryman are former homes of the Opry.
“While we ourselves are shaken by the impact of the flooding of the Opry House and throughout the area, it is important that Nashville’s most treasured tradition continues with this week’s shows,” said Grand Ole Opry Vice President Pete Fisher. “We look forward to coming together both as the Opry family and as a great American city just as we have every week for nearly 85 years. Our hearts go out to all of those affected in the Middle Tennessee area.”
The last time the Opry had to relocate was in 1975 to Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium, just one year after the opening of the Grand Ole Opry House. That move was also caused by Cumberland River flooding.
It is too early to determine how long Opry operations will be impacted at this time. Updates are being posted at opry.com, and on Facebook and Twitter.
Fellow SouthComm outlet the NashvillePost.com reports that “Gaylord has business interruption and flood damage coverage for up to $50 million in damages. However, over the past three years, the hotel complex generated an average of $66.7 million in revenue during the second quarter and about $61 million in the third quarter.”
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Sarah Skates has worked in the music business for more than a decade and is a longtime contributor to MusicRow.View Author Profile
