Could Minor League Sports Come to Murfreesboro, Tennessee?

Yesterday, the city of Murfreesboro, Tennessee announced that Legacy Sports Tennessee will construct a multi-use sports and entertainment facility to be opened in 2024.  The plan features a 6,000-seat arena, outdoor amphitheater, fitness center, gaming as well as retail and dining space.

With this ambitious plan, I wondered if this would open the door for any minor league sports to take notice and consider this area which is about 30 miles Southeast of Nashville.  Are we too close to Nashville?  Well, if you live here, you know that 30 miles will take at least 45 minutes or longer.

This has me wondering if Murfreesboro would be a good location for a minor league sports team.

Baseball

Nashville has the Sounds AAA minor league team.   It isn't likely that Murfreesboro would get a team in the minor league system; however, they could get interest from a couple of the collegiate summer leagues such as the Coastal Plains League or Sunbelt League.   

Basketball

Except for the National Basketball Association (NBA) G League, there aren't many good basketball leagues.  Murfreesboro had a team called the "Musicians" which played in the defunct World Basketball Association from 2006-2008 but nothing since then. 

Football

There's not much of chance of fielding an outdoor football team since there aren't many options other than semi-pro leagues around the country; however, there could be a good interest in Arena football.  The National Arena League (NAL) and Indoor Football League (IFL) are two of the more established leagues which might offer a good option for Murfreesboro.  

Hockey

With the Nashville Predators close, there's not much of a chance for ice hockey unless there was a team in the Predators' minor league system.  The ECHL is a step below AAA and might offer a good option for a team.  Another possibility would be a professional women's hockey team.  The Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) is the major league for women's hockey with six teams.  Expansion to Nashville with a connection to the Predators would be an awesome idea.

Lacrosse

The sport of lacrosse is popular around Nashville and there are two leagues which might offer an opportunity for Murfreesboro.  The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) has become the major league for lacrosse and a good option for this area.   The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is an indoor lacrosse league which plays in the winter and might be an ideal sport for this new sports facility.

Soccer

Soccer is big in Murfreesboro so any form of soccer team might work well here.  There are several developmental leagues playing and a team in the United Soccer League (USL) might be a good bet.  Another unique option would be the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) which plays indoor in the winter months.

So, if I were looking at a possible minor league sports team for Murfreesboro and this new sports complex, I would say these would be the best bets:

1. Women's Professional Hockey
2. Arena football
3. Collegiate Summer Baseball League
4. Developmental Soccer League
5. Lacrosse

For more information of the new sports complex.