A downtown Nashville site has been found for Fan Fair, an annual country music event that combines concerts, fan club events, autograph signings and other attractions. Organizers announced on Friday (7/21) that the event’s main stage shows will be held at Adelphia Coliseum--home to the NFL’s Tennessee Titans--on June 14-17, 2001.

Fan Fair’s exhibits and autograph sessions will take place at the nearby Nashville Convention Center, the Country Music Association’s Fan Fair Committee announced. Organizers said that they are still hashing out the exact format of the new show, but that “the most popular elements” of the event would be retained.

Adelphia Coliseum will give Fan Fair a capacity of more than 50,000 for its main stage concerts. Downtown Nashville’s Riverfront Park is being considered to host additional concerts.

"Fan Fair has been going strong for 29 years but we have big plans to grow into the 21st Century with the move to Adelphia Coliseum,'' CMA Executive Director Ed Benson said in a statement. "The challenge now is to maintain the unique character and traditions of Fan Fair while enhancing the experience for the fans, artists and everyone involved.''

Downtown Nashville was the home of Fan Fair from the time it originated in 1972 until it moved to the Tennessee State Fairgrounds in 1982. But event organizers had long complained that the fairground facilities were inadequate for the event, which has been suffering from declining attendance.

The other leading candidate to host Fan Fair was the Nashville Superspeedway, which is being built in Wilson County (a neighbor to Nashville's Davidson County). Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell, however, made a late bid to keep the event in Davidson County.