Could success of CMT Awards bring more award shows to Austin's Moody Center?

For Moody Center general manager Jeff Nickler, Sunday’s CMT Music Awards ceremony was a labor of love three years in the making. 

“It was an incredible feeling to stand in that arena last night and just look around that bowl and see all those fans, because, really, the conversations with CMT started so long ago,” he said on Monday morning. 

With the exception of a bottleneck that formed as 10,000 fans attending the show filed into the venue’s east entrance — the west side of the venue was closed to the public for red carpet arrivals — the event went smoothly. It broke ratings records for the CMT Music Awards, according to Variety.

More:CMT Music Awards took over Austin for a week. Here's what happened

“The logistics of moving an award show that has been in another city for over two decades is quite a feat. So you really have to create a whole new plan from scratch logistically,” he said. 

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In addition to the main event on Sunday, host network Country Music Television filmed segments of the show at free public concerts at the Capitol on Wednesday and Friday. CMT’s live shows also moved to Austin for the week. Nickler said he believes the final broadcast was “basically a three-hour infomercial for Austin.” 

“I don't think the city, the skyline or the building could have looked any better to a national audience,” he said. 

CMT Awards in Austin:A look at the Red Carpet at the Moody Center in photos

Will the CMT Music Awards return to Austin?

It’s still unclear if the CMT Music Awards will be back next year. Nickler said his team’s “top priority is to ensure that CBS and CMT decide to return to Austin,” but he also acknowledged that the success of the event could lure other large ceremonies to the Moody Center. 

“I believe posting this show gives us the opportunity now to go chase even bigger, even more prestigious events,” he said. 

Moody Center was constructed with large-scale, high-production events like the CMT Music Awards in mind. Nickler believes the addition of a world-class arena puts Austin “on an even playing field with other major cities,” he said. 

Before the CMT Awards were announced, he said, the venue was “approached by several other award shows, but we had already contracted with CMT.” 

“The interest in a lot of shows being in Austin is out there, and I wouldn't be surprised in the future if we see other award shows in our city,” he said.