Plans for a new Memphis 901 stadium in the Liberty Park area were announced today by the USL Championship team and the City of Memphis as part of a refresh of the city’s sporting facilities.
The team currently plays at downtown’s AutoZone Park, home to the Memphis Redbirds (Triple-A; International League). With USL officials stressing the need for soccer-specific venues, though, the team was on a deadline of sorts for a new stadium.
With a total capacity of 10,000 and 7,500 fixed seats, the new Memphis 901 stadium is designed to pay homage to the Coliseum and tie into Memphis’ rich music history under plans from Odell Sports & Entertainment Studio and LRK. The stadium will feature 7,500 fixed seats, plus suites, clubs and large covered gathering spaces for viewing parties and special events. And, keeping in line with new soccer stadiums designed as multiuser venues, the new stadium will also have the ability to host outdoor concerts, large scale events and other long-field sporting events. It will replace the Mid-South Coliseum in the Liberty Park area.
In terms of timing, the new stadium is planned to open in time for the 2025 USL Championship season and a year prior to the World Cup slated for 2026 in North America.
“When we launched our football club in 2019, we had two dreams. The first was to compete at the highest level and win a USL Championship. Today, we are proud to be in the playoffs for our second consecutive season, this time as the second seed,” said Tim Howard, Sporting Director of 901 FC, via press release. “The second goal was to build a proper soccer stadium with a world class pitch for our club that rivals that of Louisville or any of the great new venues being built in the United States and Europe for soccer. Today we move closer to that dream.”
In addition to the new stadium at Liberty Park, 901 FC will invest in two state of the art soccer fields adjacent to the site which will serve as the training home for 901 FC along with potential academy, League 2 and a women’s professional team.
The new Memphis 901 stadium is part of a $684 million refresh of Memphis sporting facilities, including the aforementioned AutoZone Park, FedExForum and Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. The plan is not final and contingent on $350 million in cash from the state of Tennessee and a rise in the local hotel tax from 3.5 percent to 5 percent, which will require legislative approval. Other potential tax rebates, including car-rental and sales taxes, could also be part of the funding request.
Renderings courtesy Memphis 901 FC.