Finley Stadium Secures Sales Tax Funds for Improvements

The city agreement allows the stadium to retain sales tax revenue to fund capital repairs through 2032.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Philanthropy

Isometric editorial illustration showing a concrete stadium support beam in shades of teal, oxblood, and cream. — Chattanooga has finalized an agreement with the Stadium Corporation to redirect sales tax revenue toward capital repairs at Finley Stadium through 2032. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Chattanooga is entering a memorandum of understanding with the Stadium Corporation to allow Finley Stadium to retain state and local sales tax revenue for capital projects. This shift, enabled by Tennessee Public Chapter No. 927, allows the venue to direct tax proceeds toward deferred maintenance through 2032.

Why it matters

The agreement secures a dedicated stream of funding for the stadium's upkeep, ensuring the ongoing viability of a venue that supports $30.3 million in annual local economic impact. Operators should watch for how such tax-capture mechanisms influence the maintenance and development of regional venues they rely on for customer traffic.

The agreement will reallocate $342,200 in state sales tax and $89,900 in local sales tax annually to Finley Stadium, excluding funds designated for Hamilton County Schools. The stadium, which currently attracts 482,000 visitors per year, has access to these funds through 2032.

The players

Finley Stadium

A major event venue jointly owned by the city and Hamilton County that serves as a regional hub for sports and community gatherings.

Stadium Corporation

The non-profit entity responsible for the daily operations and management of the stadium facility.

Tennessee Commissioner of Revenue

The state authority overseeing the implementation of tax-capture agreements under recent legislative changes.

The details

Under the terms of Public Chapter No. 927, the Stadium Corporation must submit an executed agreement to the Tennessee Commissioner of Revenue to begin the tax retention process. The City Finance Department is responsible for calculating the annual revenue split, factoring in whether existing Tourism Development Zone (TDZ) thresholds are triggered. These captured funds are earmarked exclusively for addressing the facility's deferred maintenance and structural capital needs.

1999: Chattanooga's Tourism Development Zone was originally created.
2025: The Tennessee Legislature passed Public Chapter No. 927.
2032: The access period for the reallocated sales tax funding concludes.

Market Landscape

This agreement leverages the tax-capture framework established by Tennessee Public Chapter No. 927 to finance major infrastructure maintenance. It represents a significant shift from traditional stadium funding models by directly linking on-site tax generation to long-term capital stability.

Operators in the events and hospitality sectors should monitor how this funding shift impacts the facility's schedule and quality of operations. The influx of capital for renovations could signal upcoming changes to vendor opportunities or service capabilities at the stadium over the next seven years.

The takeaway

The move formalizes a long-term capital improvement strategy for a key regional economic asset. Owners should review their own local tourism zones to identify similar tax-retention opportunities for facility upgrades or local infrastructure improvements.