Nashville politics operate in an extremely narrow window. The local government has a degree of autonomy, but there are unspoken checks on it by a generally hos

Nashville politics operate in an extremely narrow window. The local government has a degree of autonomy, but there are unspoken checks on it by a generally hostile state government. Nashville is represented by Democrats while the state is controlled by Republicans. There is an implicit threat that if the city fails to pursue the state's objectives the state will punish it. Recently the city angered the state because it refused to hold the Republican convention. The state retaliated by passing a law to shrink the Nashville city council and another to take control of its airport. The state also took control of the Nashville tourism board that has a slush fund paid for by city taxes. There is a direct line between state reps and local politicians. So for example when state lobbyists were angered at the loss of parking due to a bike lane they called up a council member to have the lane removed. Which is all to say that the stadium deal was ordered by the state and not something the city had a real say in. If the datacenter people go and cozy up to the governor or legislators the state will lean on the city again and they will ram it through as well.