Images: Memphis Athletics/Populous
The athletics division of the University of Memphis has unveiled updated plans and timelines for the renovation of Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, which it states will help propel the venue and Memphis Football into the forefront of the college football landscape.
Memphis Athletics, alongside the University’s Auxiliary Services Foundation, is committing to a $220m (£173.3m/€202.9m) investment and approaching the renovation in three phases – a strategy designed to allow work to begin as quickly as possible while securing the necessary funding for subsequent phases.
Initially, Memphis is moving forward with the first two phases at an estimated cost of $195m. Memphis and firms Populous, Barton Malow and MFA, in addition to local partners brg3s, Grinder Taber Grinder and Allworld, are designing the project to the full three-phase cost of $220m.
Expected to begin in May, with completion prior to the football season, the $8-10m first phase includes renovation of the existing East Side Suite Level Two to accommodate moving media and gameday operations from their current West Side location to prepare for phase two, as well as other general upkeep, deferred maintenance and site preparation elements.
Memphis hopes to start phase two as soon as possible this year, upon securing the necessary funds. This will cover transformation of the stadium’s West Side to dramatically improve the look of the facility and provide several modern-day premium seating options, create a unique interior ‘party plaza’ area for all fans and begin initial perimeter and halo upgrades to create a hospitality space around the stadium.
Phase three, again dependent on securing the necessary funding, will see locker room expansion and upgrades, any remaining perimeter, halo and concourse upgrades, other seating enhancements and north end tunnel renovation allowing production access for large-scale events such as concerts.
The project is being funded by $120m from the State of Tennessee, $50m in a challenge gift from FedEx founder Fred Smith and his family, and a further $50m that the university plans to fundraise.
In January, the university said it would launch a fundraising campaign to complete the funding package for the reimagining of Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium after the allocation of state money was officially signed off, along with transfer of ownership of the venue.
Memphis City Council finalised its approval of a resolution allocating and appropriating $120m in state grant funding to go towards renovations of Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, as well as transferring ownership from the city to the University of Memphis Auxiliary Services Foundation.
In May 2022, the University and the City of Memphis announced plans to pursue a $150m to $200m renovation of the stadium, and in April last year the State of Tennessee approved a $350m contribution to stadium and arena projects in Memphis, including the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium redevelopment.
University of Memphis vice-president and director of intercollegiate athletics, Laird Veatch, said the university has already secured around $16m of the $50m fundraising target. He continued: “The elements of this renovation represent a game-changing opportunity for our fans, our football program and our athletic department.
“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. We are incredibly grateful to our leadership donors for their tremendous early response to matching the Fred Smith Family challenge pledge, which has already led to over $16m in gift commitments including nine in the seven-figures.”
It was originally hoped that the project would be completed in time for the 2025 football season, but Memphis has now said this target has been pushed back to prior to the start of the 2026 season.
Stadium capacity during the 2024 and 2025 seasons is anticipated to be in the low-30,000s, and capacity after renovations are complete is estimated to be approximately 50,000, slightly lower than the venue’s current mark.
Veatch added: “From the start of this process back in May 2022, our primary goals have been to optimise our position in the rapidly evolving landscape of intercollegiate athletics, demonstrate our commitment to sustainable competitive and recruiting success and upgrade the fan experience.
“When this renovation is finished, we will have achieved all of this and then some.”
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