Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium

Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium
The Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium as seen from above.
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium is located in Tennessee
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium
Location in Tennessee
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium is located in the United States
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium
Location in the United States
Former namesMemphis Memorial Stadium (1965–1975)
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium (1975–2022)
Address335 South Hollywood Street
LocationMemphis, Tennessee
Coordinates35°7′16″N 89°58′39″W / 35.12111°N 89.97750°W / 35.12111; -89.97750
Public transitBus interchange MATA
OwnerUniversity of Memphis
OperatorUniversity of Memphis
Capacity50,000 (2024-present)
58,325 (2016–2024)
59,308 (2013–2015)
61,008 (2007–2012)
62,338 (2003–2006)
62,921 (1999–2002)
62,380 (1987–1998)
50,160 (1965–1986)[1][2][3]
Surfacemodern version of "AstroTurf" (2011–present)
FieldTurf (2005–2011)
Grass (1965–2004)
AstroTurf (end zones only 1995 for CFL games; entire field 2012–present)
Construction
Broke ground1963
OpenedSeptember 16, 1965
Expanded1987
Construction cost$3.7 million (original)
($35.8 million in 2023 dollars[4])
$19.5 million (1987 renovations) ($52.3 million in 2023 dollars[4])
$38 million (improvements and Tiger Lane, 2013)
ArchitectYeates, Gaskill & Rhodes[5]
Bounds & Gillespie Architects (1987 renovations)
Tom Marshall, O.T. Marshall Architects (2013 improvements and Tiger Lane)
Tenants
Memphis Tigers (NCAA FBS) (1965–present)
Liberty Bowl (NCAA FBS) (1965–present)
Memphis Southmen (WFL) (1974–1975)
Memphis Rogues (NASL) (1978–1980)
Memphis Showboats (USFL) (1984–1985)
Southern Heritage Classic (NCAA FCS) (1990–present)
Memphis Mad Dogs (CFL) (1995)
Tennessee Oilers (NFL) (1997)
Memphis Maniax (XFL) (2001)
Memphis Express (AAF) (2019)
Memphis Showboats (USFL, UFL) (2023–present)
Houston Gamblers (USFL) (2023)
Liberty Bowl Entrance

Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, originally named Memphis Memorial Stadium, and later Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, is a football stadium located at the former Mid-South Fairgrounds in the Midtown area of Memphis, Tennessee, United States. The stadium is the site of the annual Liberty Bowl, the annual Southern Heritage Classic, and is the home field of the University of Memphis Tigers football team of the American Athletic Conference. It has also been the host of several attempts at professional sports in the city, as well as other local football games and other gatherings.

  1. ^ Bailey, Thomas Jr. (April 8, 2013). "Memphis Gets Building Permit for Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Upgrades". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
  2. ^ "2013 Memphis Football Media Guide". Memphis Athletics. 15 August 2013. p. 3. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  3. ^ "Liberty Bowl Premium Seat Selection Process". University of Memphis Athletics. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  4. ^ a b 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  5. ^ "Liberty Bowl, Memphis | 250415 | EMPORIS". Emporis. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)