The Story Behind the Giant Guitar
Nashville has long been a baseball city. The sport was first introduced to the area in 1862, during the Civil War, and in 1885, the city's first professional team—the Nashville Americans—began playing at the historic Sulfur Dell. By the turn of the twentieth century, the sport had taken hold, and in 1901, the Nashville Vols—the city's longest-running minor league team—was formed. The Nashville Vols played at Sulfur Dell for over fifty years before the Dell was demolished in 1969. With no place to play and a growing appetite for the sport, Nashville needed a baseball field.
Enter former Vanderbilt University baseball coach Larry Schmittou.
In 1976, after the City of Nashville decided against funding a new ballpark, Vanderbilt University baseball coach Larry Schmittou teamed up with a group of investors, including Conway Twitty, to finance a new stadium and minor league team. With a lease from the Metro Parks Board for a parcel of land by the old Fort Negley, Schmittou and his team commissioned a 7,200-seat baseball stadium. Herschel Greer Stadium—named after Herschel Lynn Greer, the first president of Nashville's minor league team—opened in 1978 as home to the aptly named minor league team, the Nashville Sounds. Herschel Greer Stadium went on to host nearly 3,000 games before officially closing in 2019 and was the #1 stadium in league attendance seven years in a row.
Before the 1993 season, Schmittou installed a 53-foot tall, 116-foot-wide guitar-shaped scoreboard in the outfield of Greer Stadium. Inspired by the city’s country music scene, the scoreboard was a custom piece by Fair-Play
Scoreboards. The guitar featured two large message boards for announcements and game information and lines across the neck to record balls, strikes, and outs. An investment piece like this wasn’t exactly in Schmittou’s launch budget. Fair-Play incorporated ad spots across the face of the guitar and tuning keys, which Schmittou preemptively sold to Budweiser. Through those initial ad sales, Schmittou and the team were able to finance the guitar before it was purchased.
The scoreboard arrived weighing nearly 36,000 pounds and quickly became an icon. After each home run and victory, fireworks would shoot out from behind the guitar, and any player who hit the scoreboard won a free guitar from a local guitar brand sponsor. Nationally, the scoreboard became widely acclaimed as one of the most unique pieces of local flair in any ballpark.
After 37 seasons, the Nashville Sounds moved to a new stadium in Germantown in 2015. The original scoreboard was left behind and fell into disrepair. In 2019, AJ Capital Partners purchased the scoreboard with a vision to incorporate the legendary piece into their work in the Wedgewood Houston neighborhood. Lovingly restored in partnership with Jarvis Signs, the scoreboard now sits atop a 1-acre public greenspace just minutes from its original home.
The iconic 115-foot-long guitar-shaped scoreboard was introduced to Herschel Greer Stadium here in Wedgewood Houston in 1993.
A 1978 baseball game at Herschel Greer Stadium in Nashville, home of the Nashville Sounds Minor League Baseball.
Restored in 2019 by AJ Capital and partners, the guitar now stands as the entry way to Wedgewood Houston.
Conway Twitty and Barbara Mandrell hosted the 1983 Celebrity Softball Classic at Greer Stadium
Nashville Sounds 1978 Official Souvenir Program showing the historic Herschel Greer Stadium
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Sound Specifications
The Outfield is fully equipped for live music and events with amplified sound. Around the stage are 28 power outlets 20amp/each.
Noise Restrictions
Events with amplified sound must start after 6:00pm M-F and end by 10:00pm. Weekend events with amplified sound must end by 10:00pm. Events without amplified sound may be booked from 10:00am – 10:00pm all week.
Host Responsibilities
For all approved events, hosts are responsible for coordinating and organizing the following:
Permits
Open/Closing Logistics
Catering and Vendor Coordination
Event Liability Insurance
Alcohol Liability Insurance if applicable
Trash Removal/Clean Up
Restrooms
Security for events of 250+
Coordination and communication with building management
Rental Fee
Public Restrooms
Public Restrooms
The Outfield does not have public restrooms. Event hosts are responsible for engaging and coordinating portable restrooms with associated vendors if required for the proposed event.
The Outfield does not have Event hosts are responsible engaging and coordinating portable restrooms associated vendors if required for the proposed event.
Event Parking
Event
The Outfield is adjacent to a parking garage which can accommodate event parking on a case-bycase basis. In the case the garage is not available for your event, there are over 300 parking spaces within a few blocks of the neighborhood in paid lots as well as on the street.
The Outfield is adjacent to a parking garage which can accommodate parking on a case-bycase basis. In the case the garage is not available for your event, there are over 300 parking spaces within a few blocks of the neighborhood in paid lots as well as on the street.
Rental fees vary based on group, time, anticipated attendance and ticketing fees. For specific event pricing, please reach out to outfieldevents@nashvillewarehouseco.com
