John R. Ingram is chairman of Ingram Industries Inc.

Ingram Industries Inc. operates Ingram Marine Group, one of the largest barge operations in the country.

The company also operates Ingram Content Group, which provides services in the book publishing industry.

The holding company had $2.3 billion in revenue last year, according to Forbes.

Nashville’s bid for a Major League Soccer expansion franchise has attracted the backing of a giant in Nashville’s business world with one of the city’s most prominent last names.

John R. Ingram, chairman of Ingram Industries Inc., has emerged as the lead investor of Nashville’s proposal for an MLS expansion team.

The move gives Nashville’s MLS application the direction and financial support of someone with deep ties in the Nashville community whose connections span business, philanthropy, higher education, college athletics and politics.

The announcement comes less than one week after Nashville was named one of 10 final cities for four MLS expansion citiesteams that would begin play sometime after 2020.

In a prepared statement, Ingram pointed to Nashville’s growing soccer fan base and momentum as a city.

“Nashville has a truly passionate fan base demonstrated by terrific attendance at national team matches,” Ingram said. “We’re a diverse, international city with a vibrant youth soccer scene and a booming population. We’re also a proven major league sports town. Nashville is ready for the world’s biggest sport played at the highest level.”

The emergence of Ingram on the pro soccer scene follows news Monday that for the first time Nashville will host a CONCACAF Gold Cup match in July featuring the U.S. Men’s Soccer National Team.

Read more:

Nashville to host US Soccer in 2017 Gold Cup tournament

Nashville among 10 cities under consideration for four MLS expansion teams

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His status as lead owner complements an effort that started by Nashville businessman Bill Hagerty in August with the creation of the Nashville MLS Steering Committee, a coalition of two dozen political and business leaders that has pushed for an MLS expansion team in Music City.

Hagerty, former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development under Republican Gov. Bill Haslam, and the rest of the steering committee intend to continue actively supporting Nashville’s MLS bid. But it will be an investor group led by Ingram that plans to formally submit Nashville’s application ahead of a fast-approaching Jan. 31 deadline.

Future MLS expansion teams face a record $150 million franchise fee. When factoring in stadium costs, training facilities and other factors, MLS Commission Commissioner Don Garber has estimated the overall financial commitment could rise to $300 million for prospective ownership groups.

“John is a friend and a leader who is making a major statement of support for Nashville and the effort to bring Major League Soccer and the world’s most popular sport to our thriving, growing city,” Hagerty said. “A strong ownership group is the most important component of any MLS bid, and John is the ideal lead investor.”

Nashville-based Ingram Industries Inc. operates Ingram Marine Group, one of the largest barge operations in the country, and Ingram Content Group, which provides services in the book publishing industry. The holding company took in $2.3 billion in revenue last year, according to Forbes. Ingram also is a member of the board of trustees of Vanderbilt University and chairman of the board of the Entrepreneur Center. Ingram is the son of Nashville philanthropist Martha Ingram.

Metro government is expected to be asked to help pay for a part of costs to build a new MLS stadium. Mayor Megan Barry has expressed interest in MLS soccer in Nashville but has stopped short of committing to stadium funding.

Barry called the arrival of Ingram’s leadership “incredibly exciting news that further shows the commitment of Nashville’s leaders and business community to make Nashville a world-class soccer city."

“I appreciate the commitment of John Ingram and so many others to recruiting Major League Soccer to Music City,” Barry said.

Ties to Vanderbilt University

Ingram, a donor and supporter of Vanderbilt athletics, this past year helped recruit new Vanderbilt men’s basketball coach Bryce Drew to Nashville.

His investment role with Nashville’s MLS bid comes after Vanderbilt athletic director David Williams has said he wants to accelerate plans to construct a new football stadium for the Commodores. Williams has previously said he is open to a possible partnership in sharing a new stadium with a future MLS team if it created additional revenue for Vanderbilt.

"I don’t speak for Vanderbilt,” Ingram said when asked about a potential shared stadium between Vanderbilt and a future MLS team. “Whether this will present an opportunity for the university, they may want to think about it. There could be a role for other institutions — like Vanderbilt — to participate in developing and using a multiuse project to serve the Nashville community.”

Vanderbilt Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs Beth Fortune indicated that the university would be interested in a partnership.

“Vanderbilt always strives to be a good community citizen, and we recognize that what benefits Nashville also benefits Vanderbilt, and we are excited about the opportunity to have MLS in Nashville,” Fortune said. “The university is engaging in our own land use planning, and we look forward to learning more as the planning for the potential MLS project develops."

EXCLUSIVE: Vanderbilt in talks for new football stadium

As Ingram and other others seek an MLS team, Nashville’s first professional soccer franchise, Nashville SC, plans to begin play in 2018. Approved earlier this year, Nashville SC will compete in the United Soccer League, which falls two leagues under MLS in the pecking order of North American soccer.

"We are eager to work with everybody, especially anyone who wants to bring professional soccer to Nashville,” Ingram said.

Court Jeske, CEO of Nashville SC, said his organization is "supportive of any movement to bring Major League Soccer to Nashville."

"Our city’s interest in soccer is accelerating in a fantastic way, and we believe that a rising tide lifts all boats," he said. "MLS will look for communities that have a strong local fan base. Nashville SC is excited to take the field in March 2018 to show that Nashville is ready.”

Ingram's leadership

The leadership of Ingram, deep pocketed and well connected, could help Nashville’s chances to land an MLS team as it competes against multiple cities in the Southeast and against cites with more established roots in professional soccer. Some cities are further along in the expansion application process than Nashville, which made contact with the league for the first time this year.

A prerequisite for getting an MLS team is that the ownership have strong community ties and a proven track record.

“This effort doesn’t just require someone with resources but also with vision,” said Will Alexander, co-organizer of the Nashville MLS Steering Committee. “John Ingram has always been an innovator, and he understands that soccer’s time in the U.S. as a sport and an economic force has come. He also cares deeply about Nashville and the city’s future.”

The Nashville MLS Steering Committee, which intends to endorse the application of the ownership group, includes support from Vanderbilt's Williams as well as top executives of HCA, Bridgestone Americas, Nissan North America and Ryman Hospitality Properties, the Tennessee Titans and the Nashville Predators.

“There is a great deal of energy, commitment and momentum around Nashville’s bid for a Major League Soccer team,” Jose Munoz, chief performance officer of Nissan Motor Co. and chairman of Nissan North America, said of the addition of Ingram to Nashville's MLS push. “Nashville as a market is ready for soccer at the highest level, and the business community here is excited to see what comes next.”

Reach Joey Garrison at 615-259-8236 and on Twitter @joeygarrison.