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The University of Memphis’ renovations of Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium will be split into three phases and are expected to be completed before the start of the 2026 football season, university officials announced Monday.
Officials unveiled new renderings and specific plans for the project, which is expected to cost $220 million. Among the new features unveiled Monday were a party plaza deck on the west side of the stadium that will be completed as part of the second phase and an entirely new suite level above it.
“When you go through a renovation like this and really just completely change the way you look and the type of experience you have, there’s a pride that comes with it,” athletic director Laird Veatch said. “You really sense that you belong at the highest level.”
The project will affect the next two Memphis football seasons and the other events that take place at the stadium — the Southern Heritage Classic, AutoZone Liberty Bowl and United Football League games.
The project is being funded by $120 million from the state, $50 million in a challenge gift from FedEx founder Fred Smith and his family and another $50 million that the university plans to fundraise. Veatch said Monday that the university has already fundraised about $16 million of that $50 million.
University officials have been working toward finalized plans on a significant stadium renovation for years. They initially unveiled renderings for the new-look stadium in 2022 but had to figure out how to fund the planned renovations, and that process played out during most of 2023.
State officials gave the city $350 million to put toward various stadium projects in Memphis, including renovations to FedExForum. Conversations about how to allocate that money stalled until Smith and his family donated the $50 million. Memphis city council later agreed to…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/memphis-unveils-timeline-plans-liberty-180033141.html
Author : The Commercial Appeal
Publish date : 2024-03-18 18:00:33
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