What is the name of Luke Combs' new Nashville bar coming in summer 2024?
Two-time Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year Luke Combs will soon be officially known for more than 13 consecutive No. 1 radio hits between 2016 and 2021, plus winning single of the year for his cover of Tracy Chapman's three-decade-old single "Fast Car" at the 2023 CMA Awards.
Nine months have elapsed since Combs announced a downtown concert hall and honky-tonk bar partnership with Opry Entertainment Group inspired by his 2016 breakout single "Hurricane" would take over the 69,000-square-foot multi-level Wildhorse Saloon space at Lower Broadway's 120 2nd Avenue N. The longtime Ryman-owned country bar and ticketed venue operated in the space for 30 years.
Expected to arrive in summer 2024 is a multi-level entertainment venue collaboration named "Category 10."
"The strongest a hurricane can be is a category five, so we figured we'd double it," stated Combs via social media.
"The Category 10 name symbolizes the sheer, undeniable power of Luke's voice, songwriting, andcareer, and just like Luke, this venue will be an off-the-charts experience unlike anything elsedowntown," added Ryman Hospitality Properties executive chairman Colin Reed via a press release.
"As we step into this promising era, let's raise a glass to the past and toast to the brilliant future ahead. Our heartfelt thanks to patrons, artists, staff, and everyone who contributed to making Wildhorse Saloon the legend it is today," stated the Wildhorse's social media prior to its Jan. 2024 closure.
The "promising era" to come is a space that will occupy 67,000 square feet, comprised of three interior floors, a rooftop and an indoor/outdoor capacity of approximately 3,000.
The venue's five entertainment options are listed as follows:
The Honky-Tonk – Street-level honky-tonk stage
The Main Stage – A dance floor that doubles as a 1,500-person ticketed concert venue with themed bars and a "large" beer selection – retaining the Wildhorse Saloon's traditions, the dance floor will double as a space offering line-dance lessons.
The Sports Bar – A bar with a selection of major sports playing year-round.
The Still – A space inspired by Combs' songwriting work, designed for, as noted, "Combs' Bootleggers Fan Club, bourbon aficionados, songwriters, and music lovers from all walks of life," with "performances by famous and up-and-coming singer-songwriters in an intimate setting."
The Eye – 7,000-square-foot rooftop and unobstructed views of the Cumberland River and Nissan Stadium.
Category 10 is expected to cater to fans of live music experiences via talent lineups emphasizing up-and-coming artists curated by the Opry Entertainment team.
From cutting his teeth on the 60-person capacity patio at Blowing Rock, North Carolina's Town Tavern near Appalachian State University – which still announces itself as much more a "sports bar and restaurant" with "19 flat screen TVs and the largest outdoor dining area in North Carolina's High Country" to a main performance venue 25-times larger in the heart of Nashville's Lower Broadway is an impressive leap.
"I know what I love and what my band and crew loves, and that's a state-of-the-art venue and place that takes care of you from a hospitality standpoint," Combs said. "That's how you get an act to come somewhere and come back. That's important in a business model for a place like this. I know Opry Entertainment can get that done," stated Combs to The Tennessean in April 2023.
"[Nashville] is such a destination now. It's kinda like redneck Vegas a little bit down here, you know what I mean? This space has an opportunity to scratch more than one itch for people. It's not just a bar. It's not just a concert venue. It's not just a sports bar. With the space, it can check a lot of boxes for a lot of different people."
He's maintaining his roots and an eye for the future, too.
"Cat 10 is going to be a place that artists of all levels want to play downtown," said Combs via a press release.
"We are building a spot where we can put on a high-level touring act show one night and a songwriter showcase the next. There isn't anything like this venue, and I can't wait for everyone to experience it," Combs added via press release.
The "Beer Never Broke My Heart" performer joins Garth Brooks and Eric Church as country entertainers joining what Brooks refers to as the "Neon Neighborhood" of downtown Nashville's Lower Broadway by 2025. Celebrity-endorsed food and drink options in the area will include ventures from the trio, plus Miranda Lambert, Justin Timberlake, Alan Jackson, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley and Jimmy Buffet, among many others.
Beginning in Summer 2024, Category 10 will open in phases. Like Brooks' just-opened Friends In Low Places, the construction phase will allow guests to visit a pop-up Opry Shop adjacent to the venue, featuring merchandise and memorabilia from Opry Entertainment brands.
For more information on Category 10, visit https://www.Category10.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Luke Combs' Nashville bar arrives in summer '24 with 'Hurricane' of a name