Titans find minor damage at stadium from flooding with water diverted to field itself

Titans find minor damage to LP Field from flooding

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans have gotten a chance to check out LP Field where flood waters covered the football field, and the damage appears to be minor. The arena housing the NHL’s Nashville Predators finally dried up enough Tuesday afternoon to turn the power back on in the building.

The Predators knew they had some damage to their dressing rooms when water backed up through storm drains into the first floor of the Bridgestone Arena and covered the main floor where they lost in the opening round of the playoffs only a week ago. Employees had been given Monday off and were told to stay home Tuesday as well.

Water eventually rose to a foot on the main floor, according to Gerry Helper, the team’s senior vice president and special assistant to the president. Officials then shut off power to the arena Monday night as a precaution and kept it off until late Tuesday afternoon once most water had drained away.

“We’re going to walk the building once it starts to dry to get an assessment,” Helper said. “Certainly, carpeting and woodwork on the base level, those things are destroyed and will need to be replaced. And we’ll have to take a further investigation to check any further structural issues.”

Titans senior executive vice president Steve Underwood said in a statement that water had receded enough to allow a preliminary assessment Tuesday morning at LP Field. They found 2 inches of water in most of the service level but most of the water had been diverted to the field itself.

“Any replacement costs will be covered by insurance and will start as soon as possible,” Underwood said. “Our staff and Metro employees and government who worked tirelessly together deserve our thanks.

An Associated Press photographer was able to see the Titans’ logo on the field Tuesday during an aerial tour, a surface that had been completely covered Monday with heavy trash cans bobbing at the top.

Water also had filled parking lots for a stadium on the east bank of the Cumberland River.

Underwood said the Titans’ offices and practice fields a few miles away have not had any damage. The team’s headquarters is in an area partially protected by a levee that had up to 250 volunteers helping stack sandbags Monday night to protect a gap against the rising Cumberland River.

The deadline to renew season tickets was Monday. Underwood said that deadline has been extended, and they will get in touch with season ticket holders once power is restored.