MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The impact of significant change is being felt at the heart of Mid-South soccer, as Memphis 901 FC’s recent departure to Santa Barbara, Calif., rattles fans and raises questions about the future of the sport in the Bluff City.
The United Soccer League franchise has confirmed its move to a brand new stadium on the West Coast, sparking a wave of discontent among local supporters taking to social media.
As the dust settles on this unexpected departure, concern is growing for the Memphis Redbirds, the city’s beloved minor league baseball team. Its chief executive, Craig Unger, has made an urgent call for local authorities to secure funding for AutoZone Park, which is showing signs of aging after almost 25 years of operation.
Former plans to demolish the disused Mid-South Coliseum and replace it with a state-of-the-art soccer arena that could hold 10,000 spectators now seem like a distant dream. The $52 million price tag proved too high, leaving soccer fans mourning the loss of their beloved 901 FC while Unger struggles to find the funds necessary to keep baseball alive in Memphis.
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“It sent everyone into a tailspin, like, what? I was amazed, but not completely shocked,” shared Zach Thomas, co-owner of Bluff City Media and host of the 901 Soccer Podcast. “It almost felt too good to be true.”
Thomas had already seen in reality the impressive design of the new soccer stadium unveiled by the city earlier this year, especially after 901 FC and the USL emphasized the need for a new location to remain in Memphis.
However, the exodus became clearer when popular athletic director Tim Howard decided to part ways with the franchise in June after five years to explore other opportunities. It was clear that financing would be challenging.
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“As soon as it became clear that funding for a new stadium wasn’t available, I realized our time was limited,” Thomas complained to Action News 5. “It’s certainly disappointing.”
Gov. Bill Lee’s administration allocated $350 million to Memphis for athletic facility upgrades, with a significant portion going toward the $500 million renovation of FedExForum, home of the Memphis Grizzlies. The remainder will support the $220 million renovation of Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium for the University of Memphis Tigers football team.
“The Grizzlies and Tigers secure funding because they generate revenue,” Thomas noted. “Basketball and the Grizzlies bring in a lot more tax revenue for the city.”
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As soccer fans mourn the departure of their team, Thomas is now raising concerns about the uncertain future for baseball enthusiasts in the area. Understandably, Unger emphasized in a social media post that AutoZone Park has not received any government funding. The city agreed to $5 million to ensure the facility meets MLB standards before next year’s PDL deadline. Still, there is a long list of key improvements needed to sustain the Triple-A franchise.
Mayor Paul Young assured residents Wednesday evening, “We are committed to addressing this list of needs. We want to make sure the Redbirds play in a world-class stadium.”
As football fans look back on the fond memories of four years of playoff action, they remain committed to keeping the spirit of football alive in Memphis and Shelby County.
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“Rather than focus on what was lost, I prefer to look at it as a remarkable opportunity,” Thomas explained. “Hopefully we can build on this for the future!”
Looking to the future, Thomas believes a new soccer stadium further east would be more beneficial and could draw larger crowds than its downtown predecessor. Meanwhile, the option to renovate the Mike Rose Soccer Complex was never on the table as the USL demanded an entirely new stadium, which is on the horizon for the team in Santa Barbara.
Stay tuned for more updates as the Memphis sports landscape continues to evolve!
2024-11-14 08:46:00