“Right now, we are planning to offer more events, more festivals,” Chapman says. “We’re growing our current events and festivals, and with the Hard Rock coming in, it continues to be a major hub for music.” Hard Rock’s arrival adds significant infrastructure to support that growth. The resort includes a 2,000seat Hard Rock Live entertainment.A 45-foot replica of a 1927 Resonator guitar stands in front of the casino, connecting the modern development to the city’s historical recording sessions. “We are the birthplace of country music, so we’re going to grow on those roots and expand the current festivals that we have and hopefully have more in the near future,” Chapman adds. Outside music tourism, Chapman identifies sports tourism as an untapped opportunity requiring infrastructure investment.“We have a lot of growth that can take place with sports tourism,”he says.“Right now, we are still working to bring the State Liners back to Bristol, which would help that momentum moving forward.” The Bristol Tigers, White Sox, and Pirates, minor league affiliates that played at DeVault Memorial Stadium from 1969 to 2020, are the type of draw the city seeks to recreate.“We lost a lot with surrounding areas putting that investment into the infrastructure,” Chapman acknowledges. “To bring that back and to grow sports tourism, that’s what we’re going to need to do moving forward.” Further supporting tourism, Bristol’s approach to recreation infrastructure encompasses a broader vision of connectivity. “We are working on the Mendota Trail connector from the Bristol Trail head to hopefully connect our downtown area,” Chapman says. “We’re working on a study right now and have already included the public in those conversations, and we’re working with businesses right now to figure out how we can get to downtown because it becomes a major stopping point for the trail, and then connect to the trail in Bristol, Tennessee and continue on.” The trail system would create a continuous path for residents and visitors, potentially drawing cyclists and hikers who need services and dining options along the route. The trail development aligns with a larger philosophy about urban design. Chapman describes the goal as creating a more European style downtown where 63 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 12 BRISTOL, VA
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