Ryman Auditorium unveils new Ford VIP Lounge. (IDs from L to R: Matthew Schuster, SVP Strategy and Business Development, Opry Entertainment Group; Sean Lupton, VP Brand Partnerships, Opry Entertainment Group; Hannah and Matthew Barker, Two Rivers Ford Dealership; Gary Levy, General Manager, Ryman Auditorium) | Photo Credit: Catherine Powell
Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium has unveiled its latest guest enhancement with the debut of a new Ford VIP Lounge yesterday in partnership with Mid-South Ford Dealers. The Ford Lounge is part of a $1.3 million investment at the Mother Church that also includes a new retail shop, which opened in March.
Following a ribbon cutting earlier in the day, the new space welcomed guests for the first time at Marty Stuart’s Annual Late-Night Jam. The new VIP lounge offers exclusive entry to the show, private restrooms, passed hor d’oeurves, wine, cocktails, beer, and soft drinks as well as commemorative Hatch Print Show of that night’s show. Entry to the Ford VIP Lounge is available as an add on with concert ticket purchase for an additional $100. To celebrate the new space, the Ryman and its partners will surprise guests with giveaways and VIP upgrades each month throughout the year. For more information visit ryman.com.
“We are always looking for new ways to elevate the guest experience at the Ryman," said Gary Levy, general manager of Ryman Auditorium. “We are fortunate that Ford shares our passion for creating unforgettable moments, and we are thrilled the new Ford Lounge will provide such a unique experience for fans while visiting the Ryman.”
“We’re proud to open the Ford Lounge,” said Greg Houston, regional manager of the Memphis Region, Ford Motor Company. “Like the artists at the Ryman, Ford is driven to be legendary, and we hope the new lounge provides legendary experiences for concert attendees. The Mid-South Ford Dealers are ready to show music fans what it means to be Built Ford Proud.”
Mid-South Ford Dealers Advertising Association is a cooperative of 141 Ford dealers in western Tennessee, southwest Kentucky, central and northern Mississippi, Arkansas, southern Illinois and southeast Missouri.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, that is committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for and deepen the loyalty of those customers. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, as well as connected services. Additionally, Ford is establishing leadership positions in mobility solutions, including self-driving technology, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 182,000 people worldwide. More information about the company, its products and Ford Credit is available at corporate.ford.com.
About Ryman Auditorium:
A National Historic Landmark, Ryman Auditorium was imagined by Captain Thomas G. Ryman in 1892 as the Union Gospel Tabernacle. A 14-time winner of the prestigious Pollstar Theatre of the Year award, the historic venue is well-known as the Mother Church of Country Music and is the most famous former home of the Grand Ole Opry (1943-1974). Since the first concert on May 4, 1892, the Ryman has celebrated an array of entertainment acts and all genres of music on its hallowed stage – from magician Harry Houdini to comic actor Charlie Chaplin and former president Theodore Roosevelt to civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., plus music icons from all genres including Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, B.B. King, Sheryl Crow, Garth Brooks, Lizzo and Harry Styles. The Ryman’s thriving concert schedule hosts more than 200 shows per year, and the venue is open for daytime tours year-round. The Ryman has also been featured in numerous film and television projects including Coal Miner’s Daughter, The Johnny Cash Show, American Idol, Nashville and more. For more information, visit ryman.com.