The demolition of old expo centers at the Nashville fairgrounds to make way for the new Major League Soccer stadium is underway Monday after a judge last week denied a motion seeking an injunction to stop the project.

The plaintiffs in a lawsuit by the Save Our Fairgrounds coalition sought an injunction in early March to stop demolition for the new soccer stadium approved at Fairgrounds Nashville after Mayor John Cooper and Nashville SC reached a new agreement Feb. 13 on the stadium, allowing the stalled project to move forward after months of deadlock.

At a hearing on Friday, Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle denied the move saying it would be irresponsible because Metro has to pay more than $6,500 a day to demolition and project contractors every day the project is on hold.

"What you want me to do is keep these old buildings that aren't being used," Lyle said.

Demolition contracts were fully executed by the Cooper administration on Feb. 14, and fencing around the old expo buildings has gone up. Fairgrounds officials told The Tennessean buildings were set to be torn down between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. on Monday.

“We are glad that Chancellor Lyle saw fit to not disrupt the demolition process. We look forward to that process beginning on Monday and to the next step in our partnership with the Fairgrounds and all of our fellow operators there," said Zach Hunt, a spokesperson for the ownership group.

The motion for a temporary restraining order or injunctive relief argued that demolition would result in the removal of 22 acres from the "heart of the fairgrounds" impacting access to open space and parking, and creates "further harm" to the existing uses at the site.

"I'm disappointed, this is a rush job," said Jim Roberts, an attorney for Save Our Fairgrounds. "I wish the court had shown wisdom not to made a decision that is permanent."

With the trial set for June 4, Roberts said litigation could take years and possibly result in Metro rebuilding buildings that are torn down Monday

But officials, including the Metro Board of Fair Commissioners, which oversees operations at the site, have previously called on the mayor to allow demolition to move forward.

The old expo buildings are no longer in use by the Fairgrounds and utilities have already been prepared for demolition, the board said. With no historical significance and salvage, they need to be removed regardless.

The group sought to stop demolition until an ongoing lawsuit to stop construction of the stadium plays out. They are still seeking a permanent injunction to stop the project until the stadium deal goes to voters in a referendum.

The group, which includes Nashville Flea Market vendors, sued the city over the MLS stadium plans, arguing the construction at the fairgrounds and the elimination of 3,500 parking spaces would make it impossible for the flea market to operate there.​

The group won its appeal in July to overturn a Nashville judge's dismissal of the group's lawsuit, with the the Tennessee Court of Appeals saying lower court's rejections of coalition's argument failed to identify "genuine issues."

In early February, a judge ruled the case can proceed to trial. In the ruling, the judge recognized that the soccer stadium is an allowed use of Fairgrounds Nashville by recognizing the agreement between the city and the ownership group.

But the ruling raises a potential question of whether the stadium agreement runs contrary to the Metro Charter.

Save Our Fairgrounds argues it is "undisputed" that Metro is required to hold a public referendum before demolition or redevelopment can proceed at the fairgrounds.

The new stadium deal agreement, the group argues, also indicates amendments such as rezoning and new land surplus declaration need to be made to account for potential new bounds for the mixed-use development.

Amid increasing health concerns due to the coronavirus, Fairgrounds Nashville announced the March flea market will be canceled. And Major League Soccer has suspended its season immediately for 30 days in response to the coronavirus.

Yihyun Jeong covers politics in Nashville for USA TODAY NETWORK - TENNESSEE. Reach her at yjeong@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @yihyun_jeong.