The state of Tennessee is pouring hundreds of millions into stadium projects in an effort to lure big events and improve the game-day experience for fans, including those attending Liberty Bowl and FedEx Forum games in Memphis.
Not only did the legislature provide $500 million in bonds for a $2.1 billion domed Titans stadium in Nashville, it approved $350 million for the city of Memphis, which is putting the money toward renovation of the Simmons Bank Liberty Bowl where the University of Memphis Tigers play football and improvements at the FedEx Forum.
In addition, state Rep. Kevin Vaughan, a Collierville Republican, and Sen. Brent Taylor, a Memphis Republican, passed legislation this year allowing the Shelby Convention and Visitors Bureau to take a greater percentage of Shelby County’s hotel-motel tax revenue to pay off FedEx Forum improvements. The county’s Public Building Authority owns the home of the Memphis Grizzlies and leases it for use.
Taylor, who was serving on the Memphis City Council when the FedEx Forum was constructed, agrees with the spending plan. The Grizzlies initially signed a 20-year commitment to play in Memphis.
“Obviously, this will re-commit them to the city of Memphis if we’re able to get the FedEx Forum renovated, and it needs the renovations. It’s 20 years old,” Taylor says of the project, which is supported across Memphis.
Taylor is also comfortable with the new Liberty Bowl arrangement and adds that the university will be “better stewards” than the city of Memphis, which has other assets to oversee.
As part of the Shelby County deal, the Memphis City Council opted to deed the Liberty Bowl to the University of Memphis for a $220 million effort taking $120 million in state funds, $50 million from FedEx founder Fred Smith and another $50 million to be raised from Tigers boosters. The university’s nonprofit group is handling the project.
Work started in May and is slated for completion before the beginning of the 2026 football season, although construction could disrupt games this year and next year.
“The experience over the next two seasons is going to be different, and there may be some growing pains for a short period of time, but this renovation truly represents transformational growth,” University of Memphis Vice President and Athletics Director Laird Veatch said in a statement earlier this year.
By March, the university had garnered $16 million in commitments for the stadium, to match Smith’s gift. University of Memphis officials did not respond to requests for comment or an update.
The first phase calls for renovating the east side suite level to move media and game-day operations from the west side in preparation for a second phase, which entails building suites and open seating areas that, combined, will create a “party plaza” that leads to hospitality space around the stadium.
