Read the article here.

The University of Memphis released their three phase plan for the Liberty Stadium $220 million renovation.

Construction begins in May.

Capacity will be 30,000 for 2024 and 2025. It will be 50,000 once fully done in 2026.

Should be one of the nicer stadiums in the AAC once complete!

Why would Memphis St. build Liberty U a new stadium?

(03-20-2024 05:02 PM)tigergatorcyclone Wrote:  Read the article here.

The University of Memphis released their three phase plan for the Liberty Stadium $220 million renovation.

Construction begins in May.

Capacity will be 30,000 for 2024 and 2025. It will be 50,000 once fully done in 2026.

Should be one of the nicer stadiums in the AAC once complete!

Looking good, Memphis!

So what is the outlook to secure the necessary funding to actually execute this plan?

From the descriptions of the three construction phases, it appears that the really transformative Phase 2 and Phase 3 work is dependent on raising at least another $50 million ($25 million for each phase) to match funding pledges already made by the Smith Family.

(03-20-2024 05:54 PM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote:  So what is the outlook to secure the necessary funding to actually execute this plan?

From the descriptions of the three construction phases, it appears that the really transformative Phase 2 and Phase 3 work is dependent on raising at least another $50 million ($25 million for each phase) to match funding pledges already made by the Smith Family.

the AD says 16+ million has already been raised towards the 50 million dollar match.

Looks similar. What's different?

Memphis will get the money. P4 spots might be opening up soon, they’ll want to be ready

(03-20-2024 07:49 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(03-20-2024 05:54 PM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote:  So what is the outlook to secure the necessary funding to actually execute this plan?

From the descriptions of the three construction phases, it appears that the really transformative Phase 2 and Phase 3 work is dependent on raising at least another $50 million ($25 million for each phase) to match funding pledges already made by the Smith Family.

the AD says 16+ million has already been raised towards the 50 million dollar match.

How much more to give the tiger a back end?

A fine-looking stadium. Congratulations!

Interesting they took the name "Bowl" out of the stadium.

I guess it's a mouthful with all the new advert naming.

I'm sure everyone will still call it the Liberty Bowl and not Liberty Stadium. Which sounds stupid.

Seems like they're trying to force a square peg in a round hole naming wise. Just put the word Bowl back in, and keep all the ad jargon if they want.

Stadium looks killer. Good luck!

(03-20-2024 08:01 PM)CougarRed Wrote:  Looks similar. What's different?

True, the overall form of the future facility will be similar to that of the current stadium — with a key exception being a replacement press box (that looks to be extremely nice).

However, the function of the stadium, once the work is finished, will be much improved (concourse, restrooms, concessions, etc.)

Compared to many football stadiums (and particularly those recently constructed), the modernist-era Liberty Bowl offers a very distinctive (even a bit quirky) shape. And with updated colors, lighting, landscaping, etc., it could look very inviting.

Time will tell.

(03-20-2024 09:12 PM)ThunderDent Wrote:  Interesting they took the name "Bowl" out of the stadium.

I guess it's a mouthful with all the new advert naming.

....

Stadium looks killer. Good luck!

Likely the difference helps to distinguish the venue from the annual exhibition game, which would have its own sponsor.

One big development over the last few months as part of this....the university owns the stadium now. Not the city. So the University has full ownership and control. 1.5 miles from the main campus.

Huge for the future. Now just need the right dominos to fall in the Tigers favor.

(03-21-2024 08:24 AM)bill dazzle Wrote:  

(03-20-2024 08:01 PM)CougarRed Wrote:  Looks similar. What's different?

True, the overall form of the future facility will be similar to that of the current stadium — with a key exception being a replacement press box (that looks to be extremely nice).

However, the function of the stadium, once the work is finished, will be much improved (concourse, restrooms, concessions, etc.)

Compared to many football stadiums (and particularly those recently constructed), the modernist-era Liberty Bowl offers a very distinctive (even a bit quirky) shape. And with updated colors, lighting, landscaping, etc., it could look very inviting.

Time will tell.

I like the parabolic lines. They remind me of the first stadium the Tampa Bay Bucs played in.

(03-21-2024 11:56 AM)Gitanole Wrote:  

(03-21-2024 08:24 AM)bill dazzle Wrote:  

(03-20-2024 08:01 PM)CougarRed Wrote:  Looks similar. What's different?

True, the overall form of the future facility will be similar to that of the current stadium — with a key exception being a replacement press box (that looks to be extremely nice).

However, the function of the stadium, once the work is finished, will be much improved (concourse, restrooms, concessions, etc.)

Compared to many football stadiums (and particularly those recently constructed), the modernist-era Liberty Bowl offers a very distinctive (even a bit quirky) shape. And with updated colors, lighting, landscaping, etc., it could look very inviting.

Time will tell.

I like the parabolic lines. They remind me of the first stadium the Tampa Bay Bucs played in.

it was the same designer...ours is concrete/rebar while Tampa's was metal I believe.

Wish we had done this 20 years ago but this looks awesome.

(03-21-2024 11:56 AM)Gitanole Wrote:  

(03-21-2024 08:24 AM)bill dazzle Wrote:  

(03-20-2024 08:01 PM)CougarRed Wrote:  Looks similar. What's different?

True, the overall form of the future facility will be similar to that of the current stadium — with a key exception being a replacement press box (that looks to be extremely nice).

However, the function of the stadium, once the work is finished, will be much improved (concourse, restrooms, concessions, etc.)

Compared to many football stadiums (and particularly those recently constructed), the modernist-era Liberty Bowl offers a very distinctive (even a bit quirky) shape. And with updated colors, lighting, landscaping, etc., it could look very inviting.

Time will tell.

I like the parabolic lines. They remind me of the first stadium the Tampa Bay Bucs played in.

Yep, the old sombrero!

(03-21-2024 10:46 AM)Boots Wrote:  One big development over the last few months as part of this....the university owns the stadium now. Not the city. So the University has full ownership and control. 1.5 miles from the main campus.

Huge for the future. Now just need the right dominos to fall in the Tigers favor.

That is huge! No more paying rent. You get to keep all signage, all parking, all concessions, all ticket rev etc.

If it was only on campus, it would be perfect.

(03-21-2024 02:03 PM)CougarRed Wrote:  

(03-21-2024 10:46 AM)Boots Wrote:  One big development over the last few months as part of this....the university owns the stadium now. Not the city. So the University has full ownership and control. 1.5 miles from the main campus.

Huge for the future. Now just need the right dominos to fall in the Tigers favor.

That is huge! No more paying rent. You get to keep all signage, all parking, all concessions, all ticket rev etc.

If it was only on campus, it would be perfect.

Agreed!

We have 3,000 beds on campus right now and we have 600 kids on the waitlist for the dorms.

They are building (public-private partnership) apartment style dorms on South Campus where the Baseball Stadium, Softball Stadium, Track & Field, Soccer, and Football/Basketball training sites are housed. The hope is to move athletes to South Campus with their own library/study site, cafeteria etc. once those apartments are over.

With 3,500 - 4,000 kids on campus + Greek Life housing, that puts about 4,000 - 4,500 kids within two miles of the stadium.

Now that we own the stadium and it is technically a UofM campus, we can also do the branding throughout the stadium, including celebrating conference titles, bowl wins, all-Americans, etc. Excited for this!