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The University of Memphis is set to begin construction on the $220 million renovation of Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium this May, with the goal of completing the overhaul before the 2026 season begins.
Memphis Athletics plans to execute the renovations in three phases, with Phase 1 expected to be done before the start of the 2024 Tiger football season.
The first two phases are estimated to cost a combined $195 million, with the remaining $25 million allocated for Phase 3.
The team that the U of M is working with on the project includes:
- Kansas City-based Populous
- Michigan-based Barton Malow
- Memphis-based MFA Program Management
- Memphis-based brg3s Architects
- Memphis-based contractor Grinder, Taber & Grinder
- Memphis-based Allworld Project Management
University of Memphis athletic director Laird Veatch spoke with media members about the updated timeline Monday, March 18, and gave an update on the U of M’s fundraising efforts for the renovations.
Of the $220 million project cost, $120 million in funding is coming from the State of Tennessee, via the City of Memphis; and $100 million is coming from private sources: $50 million donated by the Fred Smith family, available once the other $50 million is matched by U of M fundraising efforts.
The U of M also now owns the stadium after ownership was transferred to them from the City.
Veatch said the U of M currently has $16 million in fundraising commitments for the project, including nine seven-figure gifts. He said the goal is to have all $50 million in commitments received by the end of the calendar year.
“It’s really resonating with people,” Veatch said of the campaign. “You want to push it forward and do it as quickly as you can in the way we want to, but we also don’t want to overextend. It’s a balance of all that. You’ve got to really maximize the dollars you have; you do [that] in part by doing it earlier, so [that] we don’t wait years to get it done, because the price keeps going up.”
Since the renovations would be made during at least the next two football seasons, stadium capacity would be decreased to the “low-30,000s,” Veatch said. After the project is completed, the new capacity is estimated to be about 50,000. The current capacity is 58,000.
The U of M is hoping once the renovations are complete, this could push the program further up in consideration for realignment into a Power Five conference, and the benefits that status could provide down the line. The Tigers currently play in the American Athletic Conference.
Three phases of Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium project
The project’s first phase is set to begin in May and mainly includes renovating the stadium’s existing East Side Suite Level Two to accommodate moving current media and game day operations from the west side to help prepare for phase 2.
This phase is expected to cost $8 million to $10 million and be ready in time for the upcoming football season.
Phase 2 of the renovations involves adding more premium seating options such as the new Founders’ Suites, Founders’ Loge Boxes, and additional private suites, along with a “party plaza” area from end zone to end zone — an outdoor experience available for all fans.
“It’s unique. It’s going to impact everybody [and have] such a cool look on TV,” Veatch said of the party plaza. “The thing I’m excited about the most is how fans are going to feel about the place and the pride that comes from that.”
Veatch said revenue from the premium seats could potentially assist fundraising efforts, if necessary.
Construction during this phase is set to include a transformation of the stadium’s west side to improve the current look and begin perimeter and halo upgrades to create a hospitality space around Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
The U of M hopes to begin this part of the project as soon as possible in the 2024 calendar year, though that’s contingent on securing the first half of the $25 million in matching funds. The school currently needs to raise another $9 million to hit that target.
The project’s final phase includes locker room expansion and upgrades, remaining perimeter, halo, and concourse upgrades not completed in the first two phases, and other seating enhancements. It also involves renovating the north end tunnel to allow production access for events such as concerts to potentially return to Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, Veatch said.
The U of M has spoken with and kept the other football tenants — the Memphis Showboats, AutoZone Liberty Bowl, and Southern Heritage Classic — informed throughout this process, Veatch said.
“I feel good, and they’re going to benefit from this greatly. They’re going to go through some struggles these next three years like we are, but the good thing is we are all building it for football. It’s all the same kind of events and real opportunity for those folks as well,” he said.
Initial plans had renovations impacting just one football season, Veatch said. While there is regret at not being able to do this sooner, in the end he’s hopeful the transformation will pay off long-term.
As part of the construction, all west side suites, a portion of east side suites, the Stadium Club, and all non-chair back (bleacher) seats between sections 129-132 and 101-109 will be unavailable for the 2024 and 2025 football seasons. Chair back seats on the west side of the stadium will not be impacted during this construction phase.
Impacted season ticket holders are set to go through a seat selection process with the U of M this summer. About 1,100 accounts are impacted by the construction, the university said.
“It’s not ideal, and that’s the challenge we’re asking all the fans to work through, but we feel like it’ll be worth it in the end,” Veatch said.