Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
MTSU Athletics launches Live in the Boro concert series presented by NVRDUL Events
9/8/2026 10:55:00 AM | General
Multi-Platinum country hitmaker Bailey Zimmerman to headline star studded inaugural show during Homecoming week
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (September 8, 2026) – Middle Tennessee State University Athletics, in partnership with NVRDUL Events, proudly announces the launch of Live in the Boro — a one-of-a-kind concert series bringing some of music's biggest names and must-see live entertainment to the MTSU campus.
During MTSU Homecoming Week, Live in the Boro will make its powerhouse debut when multi-platinum country hitmaker Bailey Zimmerman headlines the inaugural show at the historic Murphy Center. Taking place on Thursday, November 5 at 7:00 p.m. with doors opening at 6:00 p.m., the one-night event boasts a stacked lineup including hip-hop heavyweight Waka Flocka Flame, rising country act Miller Holler, and genre-blurring DJ/producer Dee Jay Silver.
"We are pleased to take this next step in our goal of making Murphy Center and Floyd Stadium entertainment destinations that will benefit not only MTSU, but Murfreesboro and Rutherford County," said President Sidney A. McPhee. "Our planned renovations to Murphy Center and Floyd Stadium, made possible through state and private funding, will make these venues even more attractive for such events."
Presented by NVRDUL Events — a leading independent concert-promotion and live-entertainment company based in Nashville — Live in the Boro will take over Murphy Center and Floyd Stadium for multiple concerts and special events throughout the academic year, establishing a major new live-entertainment destination for fans throughout Middle Tennessee and beyond.
"Live in the Boro is an exciting opportunity to bring premier live entertainment to our campus while creating a new source of support for MTSU Athletics," says Chris Massaro, MTSU director of athletics. "We're proud to partner with NVRDUL Events to launch this series and thrilled to kick things off with one of country music's biggest stars in Bailey Zimmerman during Homecoming Weekend." The Live in the Boro initiative, he said, "will generate new commercial activity around our athletic venues and provide vibrancy to our campus, Murfreesboro, and Middle Tennessee."
The Murphy Center renovations, set to begin in 2027, will transform the 53-year-old structure into a premier concert venue, giving fans "a unique opportunity to experience some of music's biggest stars in an intimate arena setting," McPhee said.
Since exploding onto the country music scene in 2022, Zimmerman has emerged as one of the genre's most formidable new stars, amassing billions of streams, sending multiple singles to No. 1, and selling out marquee venues across the U.S. Known for an exhilarating live show packed with massive hits like the 8X platinum smash 'Rock and a Hard Place,' he's primed to bring high-octane energy to Murphy Center and ignite a new era of live music at MTSU.
"At NVRDUL Events, we're always looking for opportunities to create meaningful experiences that connect artists, communities, and great institutions," says Carri Hyde, founder and CEO of NVRDUL Events. "When MTSU approached us about creating something unique that could both entertain and support Blue Raider Athletics, we knew it was a special opportunity. Launching Live in the Boro with an artist of Bailey Zimmerman's stature is an incredible way to begin what we believe will become a signature event series for Middle Tennessee."
A longtime centerpiece of the MTSU campus, Murphy Center has hosted generations of landmark concerts and sporting events. With the arrival of Live in the Boro, the storied arena will expand on its rich legacy as a go-to concert venue, pairing superstar talent with an intimate arena experience.
With additional concerts and live events to be announced soon, Zimmerman's Homecoming Week show is just the start of a long-term partnership between MTSU Athletics and NVRDUL Events. Together, the partners aim to build Live in the Boro into a fixture of Middle Tennessee's live-entertainment scene, bringing top-tier acts to Murfreesboro while directly supporting Blue Raider student-athletes.
Pre-sale tickets for the Zimmerman concert begin Wednesday, Sept. 9 at noon for current 2026-27 BRAA members and season ticket holders (2026 Football and 2025-26 Men's/Women's Basketball, Baseball, and Softball) and Thursday, Sept. 10 at noon for current MTSU students. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. For updates and more information, click HERE and follow MTSU Athletics on social media.
During MTSU Homecoming Week, Live in the Boro will make its powerhouse debut when multi-platinum country hitmaker Bailey Zimmerman headlines the inaugural show at the historic Murphy Center. Taking place on Thursday, November 5 at 7:00 p.m. with doors opening at 6:00 p.m., the one-night event boasts a stacked lineup including hip-hop heavyweight Waka Flocka Flame, rising country act Miller Holler, and genre-blurring DJ/producer Dee Jay Silver.
"We are pleased to take this next step in our goal of making Murphy Center and Floyd Stadium entertainment destinations that will benefit not only MTSU, but Murfreesboro and Rutherford County," said President Sidney A. McPhee. "Our planned renovations to Murphy Center and Floyd Stadium, made possible through state and private funding, will make these venues even more attractive for such events."
Presented by NVRDUL Events — a leading independent concert-promotion and live-entertainment company based in Nashville — Live in the Boro will take over Murphy Center and Floyd Stadium for multiple concerts and special events throughout the academic year, establishing a major new live-entertainment destination for fans throughout Middle Tennessee and beyond.
"Live in the Boro is an exciting opportunity to bring premier live entertainment to our campus while creating a new source of support for MTSU Athletics," says Chris Massaro, MTSU director of athletics. "We're proud to partner with NVRDUL Events to launch this series and thrilled to kick things off with one of country music's biggest stars in Bailey Zimmerman during Homecoming Weekend." The Live in the Boro initiative, he said, "will generate new commercial activity around our athletic venues and provide vibrancy to our campus, Murfreesboro, and Middle Tennessee."
The Murphy Center renovations, set to begin in 2027, will transform the 53-year-old structure into a premier concert venue, giving fans "a unique opportunity to experience some of music's biggest stars in an intimate arena setting," McPhee said.
Since exploding onto the country music scene in 2022, Zimmerman has emerged as one of the genre's most formidable new stars, amassing billions of streams, sending multiple singles to No. 1, and selling out marquee venues across the U.S. Known for an exhilarating live show packed with massive hits like the 8X platinum smash 'Rock and a Hard Place,' he's primed to bring high-octane energy to Murphy Center and ignite a new era of live music at MTSU.
"At NVRDUL Events, we're always looking for opportunities to create meaningful experiences that connect artists, communities, and great institutions," says Carri Hyde, founder and CEO of NVRDUL Events. "When MTSU approached us about creating something unique that could both entertain and support Blue Raider Athletics, we knew it was a special opportunity. Launching Live in the Boro with an artist of Bailey Zimmerman's stature is an incredible way to begin what we believe will become a signature event series for Middle Tennessee."
A longtime centerpiece of the MTSU campus, Murphy Center has hosted generations of landmark concerts and sporting events. With the arrival of Live in the Boro, the storied arena will expand on its rich legacy as a go-to concert venue, pairing superstar talent with an intimate arena experience.
With additional concerts and live events to be announced soon, Zimmerman's Homecoming Week show is just the start of a long-term partnership between MTSU Athletics and NVRDUL Events. Together, the partners aim to build Live in the Boro into a fixture of Middle Tennessee's live-entertainment scene, bringing top-tier acts to Murfreesboro while directly supporting Blue Raider student-athletes.
Pre-sale tickets for the Zimmerman concert begin Wednesday, Sept. 9 at noon for current 2026-27 BRAA members and season ticket holders (2026 Football and 2025-26 Men's/Women's Basketball, Baseball, and Softball) and Thursday, Sept. 10 at noon for current MTSU students. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. For updates and more information, click HERE and follow MTSU Athletics on social media.
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