While Nashville doesn’t have a Major League Baseball team (even though they keep talking about an expansion team), we do have an awesome and fun AAA team – the Nashville Sounds. The Nashville Sounds are the AAA team (Minor League Baseball) for the Milwaukee Brewers. And the games are a blast! I think it’s the perfect summer activity for both visitors and locals alike.
If you’re looking for everything you need to know before or about visiting a Sounds game, then I’ve got you covered! From tickets to giveaways to ballpark activities, I’ve got the season regular knowledge to share with you.
How to Buy Tickets
Single game tickets are available on the Sounds website, which makes it very easy to purchase. They use Ticketmaster but have their own “Nashville Sounds Wallet” page that uses Ticketmaster credentials but is separate from your normal Ticketmaster account.
They don’t really sell out, so you don’t have to plan too far ahead. I buy most of my tickets day of so I can watch the weather, and I take advantage of the day of general tickets. These don’t come with assigned seats, but it’s easy to find seats that people aren’t using since the games don’t sell out!
Where to Park
First Horizon Park is located between downtown and Germantown, which can make parking a hassle. There are very few street spots nearby unless you feel like walking a good half mile. There are quite a few paid surface lots in the area that might save you a few bucks.
But, I recommend the parking garage located right at the field. It’s a State employee garage, but they open it for game nights/days. Parking typically costs between $15-20 for this garage depending on the day. I don’t think you can beat the price for the convenience.
What to Bring
First and foremost, you need your phone since that’s where your ticket will be. All tickets are digital so it’s a must.
Next, leave your big bags or purses at home. They have a clear bag policy at First Horizon Park. I would definitely recommend buying a cheap plastic purse off Amazon to have for games and concerts if you don’t already! Here’s the info directly from their website – “One clear bag – either a one-gallon Ziploc style bag or a 12″ x 12″ x 6″ clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bag – plus a wallet, small clutch/purse no larger than 5″ x 9″ in size. Exceptions will be made for medically necessary items and/or diaper bags after proper inspection and screening.”
I measured my mom’s tiny purse with a ruler before we went to make sure she could bring it! They are serious. I’ve made the mistake before and had to use their purse locker trailer since I had walked from downtown – and it was kind of pricey and definitely inconvenient.
A credit card! First Horizon Park is also a cashless facility! So, you need your credit or debit card to buy anything in the park.
Depending on the weather and time of day, don’t forget your game day essentials like sunglasses, a hat, a sweater, or a fan!
First Horizon Park
First Horizon Park was opened in 2015, so it’s a new and nice ballpark right between downtown and the start of the Germantown neighborhood (amazing restaurants) in Nashville. They really did put a lot of work and money into the ballpark to make it a nice family-friendly sports venue. Also, I love the guitar scoreboard for here in Music City!
Theme Nights and Giveaways
One thing that I think makes Sounds games super special is all the theme nights and giveaways they have. As of writing, here are their current theme nights:
Tuesday – Bring your dog – they have special tickets to bring your furry friend!
Wednesday – “Winning Wednesday” – Music Bingo for first 500 attendees & freebie
Thursday – Drink Specials!
Friday – Fireworks every Friday game
Saturday – Live Music before the game
Sunday – Family Day with autographs before the game
I’ve also seen theme nights like peanut free night, seniors’ night, and first responders’ night!
And that’s not all! Aside from these fun themed nights, they also have free promotions/giveaways at Wednesday games. You just have to get there early enough to actually snag one, since they’re typically limited to the first 500-2000 people! This means you need to get there before the game starts!
They tell you ahead of time what the promotion is. They’re listed on the ticket page, which is nice because you can plan and get excited about a future game. They also advertise certain dates and exciting promotions during the game.
Some popular freebies include Tennessee/Sounds reversible bucket hats, jerseys, t-shirts, pickleball paddles, blankets, Star Wars light sabers, belt bags, scarves, and more!
Activities at the Game
I love that the Sounds games have something for every age. It truly is family-friendly! I’ll give some details on what they have for each category below.
For Kids
There’s a giant bouncy slide, mini-golf, basketball shooting game, ping-pong, and more! They also have a “kids run the bases” after the game on certain dates/wins!
For Adults
The Band Box is located in the right field stands, and it’s the social place for adults to be. They have a full bar with frozen and mixed drinks and beers. The bar area also has ping pong and cornhole. There are also multiple tv’s set up playing live sports game happening that day. My friends love to hang out here, though, I prefer to actually watch the game in seats!
For Everyone
My favorite event of the game is the Country Legends Race. Some ballparks do hotdog or pickle races on screen, but the Sounds do an actual race around the field with people wearing giant costumes of our beloved country singers – Dolly Parton, Reba, Johnny Cash, and George Jones. The pictures are worth a thousand words and explains it all. Enjoy!
P.S. I truly believe Dolly loses every time because her hair is huge, not aerodynamic in the slightest and her bosom is… reflective of real-life! And another spoiler, Johnny normally wins – he is very aerodynamic.
The Sounds love their cameras. They have plenty of opportunities for a dance-off or a Simba baby holding moment during the games! I love that the games are so interactive!
Food and Drinks
The Sounds games have your typical ballpark food and prices, but I feel like it’s a good selection for a smallish park. They have garlic fries, pizza, bratwursts, cheeseburgers, Dippin’ Dots!!, chicken tenders, nachos, regular ice cream, and more. They also have a great selection of fountain drinks, lemonade, and alcoholic beverages – beer, frozen drinks, and cocktails.
Nashville Sounds Apparel Store
If you want a cool Nashville souvenir or you just love the Sounds, I’d recommend stopping in the Apparel Store. I love my Nashville Sounds t-shirt. It has a cool vintage design, and I enjoy wearing it whether I’m going to a game or not! They also have a great selection of hats and jerseys.
Third and Home Bar
Lastly, maybe you’re leaving the kids at home, and you want a meal a little more elevated than ballpark food. While it’s still bar food, you can dine and get drinks at the Third and Home bar and watch the game from their deck. No tickets required as the restaurant is separate and has a view from left field! I think this is a great deal and fun experience (also, a great date idea!!). Third and Home can be seen on the photo below – the building on the right!
Final Thoughts
I love attending the Nashville Sounds games! I hope this has prepared you to attend and made you excited to experience baseball in Nashville! Let me know if you attend a Sounds game – in the comments or over on Instagram! If you liked this post about the Nashville Sounds and everything you need to know about going, I’d love for you to share this post!
