Nashville police have launched an investigation after a noose was discovered at the construction site of the Tennessee Titans' new stadium, bringing work to a halt. The noose was found within the last few days at the new Nissan Stadium, which is currently under construction, a Metro Nashville Police Department spokesperson confirmed.
The Tennessee Builders Alliance, the group leading the construction, denounced the symbol and reported it to law enforcement. In a statement, the group said: 'There is no place for hate or racism in our workplace.' Work has been suspended pending a site-wide stand-down focused on inclusion and respect, and the alliance is offering a $250,000 reward for information leading to whoever is responsible.
The noose is a widely recognised hate symbol targeting African Americans, according to the Anti-Defamation League, rooted in the history of lynching after the Civil War and associated with the Ku Klux Klan. Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell called the discovery 'very concerning' and said the city has taken steps to prevent hate incidents, adding that the Titans are cooperating with the police investigation.
The new stadium, which is set to be completed in spring 2027, will seat 60,000 and serve as the home of the Tennessee Titans and Tennessee State University's football team, as well as hosting music and entertainment events.
