Nashville SC is one of the newest and most exciting teams in Major League Soccer (MLS), the top tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. The team began play in MLS in 2020 as a continuation of the USL club of the same name and plays its home matches at Geodis Park, a state-of-the-art stadium with a capacity of 30,000. Nashville SC is principally owned by John Ingram, owner of Ingram Industries, along with investors and partial owners the Turner family of Dollar General Stores and several celebrities, such as Reese Witherspoon, Derrick Henry, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Nashville SC has quickly established itself as a competitive and balanced team in MLS, reaching the playoffs in both of its first two seasons. The team is led by head coach Gary Smith, who previously won the MLS Cup with Colorado Rapids in 2010. Nashville SC has a strong defense, anchored by Walker Zimmerman, the 2020 MLS Defender of the Year and a regular starter for the United States national team. The team also boasts one of the best-designated player signings in league history in Hany Mukhtar, a creative attacking midfielder who scored 13 goals and provided 12 assists in 20212. Other key players include Randall Leal, a dynamic winger from Costa Rica; CJ Sapong, a veteran striker who scored 12 goals in 2021; and Joe Willis, a reliable goalkeeper who recorded 11 clean sheets in 20213.
Nashville SC Salary and Net Worth
According to the MLS Players Association, Nashville SC had a total payroll of $12.77 million in 20214. This ranked 12th out of 27 teams in MLS, despite being second in the Eastern Conference standings. This shows that Nashville SC has been efficient and smart with its roster spending, getting more value for each point earned than most other teams. According to The Athletic, Nashville SC’s level of efficiency ranked eighth in MLS by connecting its player payroll and its 48 points earned in the standings as of Oct. 19, which means the value of each Nashville point was $266,000 over the course of the season5.
Nashville SC Players Salary
Player | Position | Base Salary | Guaranteed Compensation |
---|---|---|---|
Hany Mukhtar | M | $1,505,000.00 | $1,505,000.00 |
David Accam | F | $975,000.00 | $1,102,916.00 |
Walker Zimmerman | D | $925,000.00 | $981,050.00 |
Jhonder Cadiz | F | $902,500.00 | $966,400.00 |
Miguel Nazarit | D | $700,000.00 | $894,375.00 |
Anibal Godoy | M | $700,000.00 | $771,667.00 |
Dax McCarty | M | $725,000.00 | $725,000.00 |
Randall Leal | M | $420,000.00 | $477,750.00 |
CJ Sapong | F | $400,000.00 | $427,778.00 |
Dan Lovitz | D | $385,000.00 | $415,556.00 |
Rodrigo Pineiro | M | $250,000.00 | $347,500.00 |
Joe Willis | G | $300,000.00 | $316,250.00 |
Dominique Badji | F | $300,000.00 | $306,250.00 |
Alex Muyl | M |
Highest-paid player of Nashville SC’s Team
The highest-paid player on Nashville SC’s roster was Hany Mukhtar, who earned $1.51 million in guaranteed compensation in 20214. He was followed by Aké Loba ($1.32 million) and Jhonder Cádiz ($1.02 million), both designated players who play as forwards. However, neither Loba nor Cádiz broke into the top 30 highest-paid players in MLS, which shows that Nashville SC has not splashed out on expensive stars like some other teams have. For comparison, the top three earners in MLS in 2021 were Carlos Vela ($6.3 million), Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez ($6 million), and Gonzalo Higuain ($5.8 million).
Average salary for Nashville SC player
The average salary for a Nashville SC player was $425,667 in 20214. This was slightly above the league average of $414,7966. However, there was a significant gap between the highest-paid and lowest-paid players on the team. The lowest-paid player on Nashville SC’s roster was Joey Skinner ($25k), a left-back who signed as a homegrown player from Clemson University4. Other players who earned less than $100k in 2021 included Ben Martino ($67k), Kemy Amiche ($67k), Nebiyou Perry ($75k), Ahmed Longmire ($75k), Tyler Freeman ($67k), Laurence Wyke ($88k), Elliot Panicco ($90k), Josh Bauer ($90k), Luke Haakenson ($88k), and Taylor Washington ($112k)4.
Net Worth of Nashville SC
The net worth of Nashville SC as a club is not publicly available, but it is likely to be higher than its initial expansion fee of $150 million that it paid to join MLS in 20177. Since then, the club has invested heavily in its stadium, training facility, academy, staff, and players. The club has also grown its fan base and revenue streams through ticket sales, merchandise sales, sponsorships, and media rights. According to Forbes, Nashville SC was valued at $325 million in 20198, making it the 18th most valuable club in MLS. However, this valuation was based on the club’s projected performance and potential in MLS, and it may have changed since then due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the club’s actual results on the field.
Nashville SC Earning Career
Nashville SC players have different earning careers and personal lives depending on their age, experience, nationality, contract status, and personal preferences. Some players have been playing soccer professionally for many years, while others are just starting their careers. Some players have represented their national teams at various levels, while others have not. Some players have long-term contracts with Nashville SC, while others are on loan from other clubs or have expiring deals. Some players have families and children, while others are single or dating. Some players are very active on social media, while others are more private.
One example of a player with a long and successful earning career is Dax McCarty, a central midfielder who has been playing in MLS since 2006. McCarty has played for five different clubs in MLS: FC Dallas, D.C. United, New York Red Bulls, Chicago Fire, and Nashville SC. He has made over 400 appearances in MLS, scoring 19 goals and providing 54 assists. He has also won two Supporters’ Shields (2007 and 2015) and one MLS Cup (2010). He has earned over $8 million in his MLS career, according to the MLS Players Association9. He currently earns $302k per year with Nashville SC4. McCarty has also played for the United States national team, earning 13 caps and scoring one goal. He was part of the squad that won the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. McCarty is married to Jen Lada, a sports reporter for ESPN. They have two sons, Callum and Cayden10.
Another example of a player with a short but promising earning career is Alistair Johnston, a right-back who has been playing in MLS since 2020. Johnston was drafted by Nashville SC in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft as the 11th overall pick out of Wake Forest University. He has quickly established himself as a regular starter for Nashville SC and the Canadian national team. He has made 47 appearances for Nashville SC, scoring one goal and providing six assists. He currently earns $73k per year with Nashville SC4, but he is likely to get a raise soon due to his impressive performance. Johnston has also made 12 appearances for Canada, scoring one goal and helping his country qualify for the final round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Johnston is single and does not have any children. He is active on Instagram and Twitter, where he posts about his soccer career and his personal life11.
How Much Does Nashville SC Player Make for Each Game?
The amount of money that Nashville SC makes for each game depends on several factors, such as attendance, ticket prices, merchandise sales, concessions sales, sponsorships, and media rights. The club does not disclose its financial details publicly, so it is hard to estimate how much it makes for each game. However, some general trends can be observed based on available data.
According to MLSsoccer.com, Nashville SC had an average attendance of 20,421 in 20211, which ranked seventh in MLS. This was an increase from its average attendance of 18,823 in 2020, which ranked sixth in MLS. However, both numbers were below the capacity of Geodis Park (30,000), which means that there is still room for growth in terms of filling up the stadium.
The ticket prices for Nashville SC games vary depending on the seat location, the opponent, and the demand. According to Ticketmaster.com, the lowest price for a single-game ticket in 2021 was $20 (for upper-level seats), while the highest price was $250 (for premium seats). The average price for a single-game ticket in 2021 was around $50.
According to Forbes, Nashville SC had an average revenue per fan of $23 in 2019, which ranked 21st in MLS. This metric measures how much money a club makes from each fan who attends its games or watches them on TV or online. It includes revenue from ticket sales, merchandise sales, concessions sales, sponsorships, and media rights. However, this number may have changed since then due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the club’s performance on the field.
Based on these numbers, a rough estimate of how much Nashville SC makes for each game can be calculated as follows:
- Ticket sales: 20,421 x $50 = $1.02 million
- Merchandise sales: 20% x 20,421 x $23 = $94k
- Concessions sales: 80% x 20,421 x $23 = $376k
- Sponsorships: 10% x 20,421 x $23 = $47k
- Media rights: 50% x 20,421 x $23 = $235k
- Total revenue: $1.02 million + $94k + $376k + $47k + $235k = $1.77 million
This is a rough estimate of how much Nashville SC makes for each game, based on some assumptions and averages. The actual amount may vary depending on the specific game and the market conditions. However, this shows that Nashville SC is a profitable and growing club in MLS, with a loyal and passionate fan base and a competitive and balanced team.
Most Asked Questions About Nashville SC
Here are some of the most asked questions about Nashville SC, along with their answers:
Q: When was Nashville SC founded?
A: Nashville SC was founded in 2016 as a USL club, and joined MLS in 2020 as an expansion team.
Q: Who is the owner of Nashville SC?
A: Nashville SC is principally owned by John Ingram, owner of Ingram Industries, along with investors and partial owners the Turner family of Dollar General Stores and several celebrities, such as Reese Witherspoon, Derrick Henry, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Q: Who is the head coach of Nashville SC?
A: The head coach of Nashville SC is Gary Smith, who previously won the MLS Cup with Colorado Rapids in 2010.
Q: Who are the designated players of Nashville SC?
A: The designated players of Nashville SC are Hany Mukhtar, Aké Loba, and Jhonder Cádiz. Designated players are players who can be paid above the salary cap limit set by MLS.
Q: Who is the captain of Nashville SC?
A: The captain of Nashville SC is Dax McCarty, a veteran central midfielder who has played in MLS since 2006.
Q: Where does Nashville SC play its home games?
A: Nashville SC plays its home games at Geodis Park, a state-of-the-art stadium with a capacity of 30,000 located in the Fairgrounds area of Nashville.
Q: What are the colors and crest of Nashville SC?
A: The colors of Nashville SC are electric gold and acoustic blue, representing the energy and harmony of Music City. The crest of Nashville SC features a stylized N with sound waves emanating from it, symbolizing the connection between soccer and music.
Q: What are the nicknames and chants of Nashville SC?
A: Some of the nicknames of Nashville SC are NSC, Boys in Gold, Music City FC, and Nashvegas. Some of the chants of Nashville SC are “Stand Up for NSC”, “Come on You Boys in Gold”, “We Are NSC”, and “Nashville’s Here”.
Q: How can I buy tickets or merchandise for Nashville SC?
A: You can buy tickets or merchandise for Nashville SC online through their official website [nashvillesc.com] or at their stadium or team store.
Q: How can I follow or support Nashville SC?
A: You can follow or support Nashville SC on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat. You can also join one of their official supporters groups such as The Roadies, The Assembly, Eastern Front, Music City Supporters, La Brigada de Oro, or The Backline.