FedExForum (Memphis, Tennessee)

FedExForum is a multi-purpose arena located in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. It is the home of the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA and the NCAA Division I men’s basketball program of the University of Memphis, both of whom previously played home games at Pyramid Arena. The venue also has the capability of hosting ice hockey games, concerts, and family shows.

The arena officially opened in September 2004 after much debate and also a derecho wind storm on July 22, 2003, that nearly brought down the cranes that were building it near the famed Beale Street. (See Memphis Summer Storm of 2003.) It was built at a cost of US$250 million and is owned by the City of Memphis; naming rights were purchased by one of Memphis’ most well-known businesses, FedEx, for $92 million. FedExForum was financed using $250 million of public bonds, which were issued by the Memphis Public Building Authority (PBA).

General information

Official website: https://fedexforum.com/

Arena capacity: 18,119 spectators

Address: 191 Beale St, Memphis, TN 38103, USA

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 35°8′18″N 90°3′2″W

Year of construction: September 6, 2004

Construction cost: $332 million

Seating plan of the FedExForum

Pinnacle Club Level

Pinnacle Club Level seats offer wider, more comfortable seats with more legroom than most any other seat in the arena. Fans sitting here will also have access to a private club level concourse which is where you will find the upscale Draft Room and Blue Note Lounge. Fans sitting in these seats will also have access to in-seat concierge service.

Courtside Club

Fans sitting Courtside are not only treated to some of the most exciting views in the arena, but you’ll also enjoy complimentary food and beverage (including beer and wine) at the exclusive VIP Floor Seat Lounge.

Club Boxes

Consisting of miniature suite style seating areas, the Club Boxes are the best option if you prefer the most privacy among the premium seating options. Fans here will have access to the upscale club concourse and lounges, and will have all-inclusive food and beverage for Grizzlies games.

Recommended Seats for Kids and Family

Sections 216, 217 and 218:

• Close to concessions and a family restroom;
• Ticket prices in the lowest tier;
• Top level of stadium has music themes throughout the whole concourse, just walking around can be entertaining for the kids.

Recommended Seats for Impressing a Guest

Sections CB1, CB2, CB3 and CB4:

• Premium club box seats in a comfortable atmosphere;
• Access to exclusive premium areas, as well all-inclusive food and beverage;
• The ultimate way to impress a guest at the game!

Recommended Seats for Great Views of the Court

Sections 113, 114 and 115:

• Amazing view from any area of the lower level sideline sections;
• Head on views of the players benches;
• Close proximity to the action from the lowest seating tier.

Sections P10, P11, P12 and P3:

• Amazing elevated view from along the sideline of the court;
• Exclusive club level amenities, including access to the lounge and in-seat concierge service;
• Wider seats with expanded leg room to enhance comfort while watching the game.

Where to buy tickets?

For individual tickets for any FedExForum event, purchase tickets online at Ticketmaster.com, area Ticketmaster Ticket Centers, charge by phone, or, visit the FedExForum Box Office. Looking for details about a particular event? Check the FedExForum Event Calendar for show details. For additional ticketing and seating options, learn more about our Premium Seats and Group Sales opportunities. Need tickets for groups of 15 or more? You could receive special savings with FedExForum group ticket offers.

Box Office Information

191 Beale Street Memphis, TN 38103 The Box Office is located adjacent to the Main Entry plaza on 3rd Street.

Hours

Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Open Saturdays on event days only. Box office hours will vary on these days. Accepted Payment Types: American Express, Mastercard, Visa, Discover, Cash

Will Call

Will Call is located in the main FedExForum Box Office. Tickets may be picked up or dropped off during regular business hours. You must present a valid photo ID to receive tickets.

Memphis basketball single game tickets range between $7 and $50 per ticket. The upper level seating is $7 to $12 which is low for Division 1 college basketball, but the ticket prices become on par with other programs if you want to sit in the lower bowl of FedExForum. The prices for seats in the lower sections increase to between $42 and $50 per set, while the concessions keep the NBA’s Memphis Grizzles prices, which are more than other college venues that are on campuses. Add the cost of parking, and a trip to FedExForum become a little higher than other college basketball ventures.

However, there are ways to maximum your ROI by purchasing the upper level seating and by eating before or after the game, especially with Beale Street just outside the arena. If your trip is planned with saving money in mind, the ROI can improve.

How to get there?

FedExForum is located in downtown Memphis at the heart of the city’s Beale Street Entertainment District. The arena is easily accessible to visitors from exits off I-40, I-55 and Midtown I-240 as well as Poplar Avenue and other east-west arteries. Affordable roundtrip express shuttle bus service and three separate trolley lines also run within a few blocks of FedExForum.

If you plan on driving to FedExForum, please consider carpooling and please allow ample time to arrive at your event on-time. Remember, heavy traffic and construction activity in some areas of the city may cause delays and heavy crowds at multiple or overlapping downtown events may require drivers to be resourceful in locating overflow parking.

North from I-55:

• Drive north on I-55;
• Exit east on E.H. Crump Blvd.;
• Turn north on Third Street to arena-area parking.

South from I-40:

• Drive west on I-40;
• Exit south on Danny Thomas;
• Turn west on Linden Avenue to arena-area parking.

West from Midtown I-240:

• Drive north on Midtown I-240;
• Exit right to Lamar;
• Turn left on Lamar;
• Turn right on Somerville and follow curve left to Linden Avenue to arena-area parking.

West from I-240 via Sam Cooper:

• Drive north on I-240 near I-40 interchange;
• Exit left on Sam Cooper Blvd;
• Follow Sam Cooper west until it dead-ends at East Parkway;
• Turn left on East Parkway;
• Turn right on Poplar;
• Follow Poplar west to Second Street;
• Turn left on Second Street and follow to arena-area parking.

East from I-40:

• Drive east on I-40 across Memphis-Arkansas Bridge;
• Exit right on Riverside Drive or Front Street;
• Follow south to Union Avenue or Beale Street;
• Turn left on Union or Beale and follow to arena-area parking.

East from I-55:

• Drive east on I-55 across Hernando DeSoto Bridge;
• Exit to Riverside Drive north;
• Turn right on Beale Street or Union Avenue to arena-area parking.

Parking

Fedexforum Gossett Motors Parking Garage

FedExForum Gossett Motors Parking Garage offers 1,500 parking spaces in the five-level attached parking garage. There are two entrances to the garage, both on Dr. M.L. King Jr. Avenue between B.B. King Boulevard and Fourth Street. Parking is sold on a season basis for Memphis Grizzlies games and Memphis Tigers games. Parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis for non-basketball events at FedExForum. Parking rates are set based on the type of event being held at FedExForum.

Additional Parking Options

An additional 6,700 spaces are available in area parking lots within a quarter mile radius of FedExForum.

Accessible Parking and Drop Off / Pick Up Locations

Parking for guests with disabilities is available in the FedExForum parking garage, and the Dr. M.L. King Jr. Avenue marshalling area. All vehicles must have a current state-issued hang tag or license plate.

The designated drop-off location for disabled patrons is located on the northside of FedExForum, off the Beale Street alley which can be reached by turning eastbound off B.B. King Boulevard, which runs one-way north. Vehicles must be attended at all times while in the alley and must display a current state-issued hang tag or license plate.

Drop Off / Pick Up Locations

Guest, limo, taxi, and express shuttle bus drop off is located at the east end of the arena on Fourth Street between Beale and Dr. M.L. King Jr. Avenue. Vehicles dropping off or picking up guests are not allowed to sit or park. Unattended vehicles will be ticketed and/or towed at owner’s expense.

Ameripark

AmeriPark is a full service parking company which provides parking management services in the FedExForum Gossett Motors Parking Garage. AmeriPark is a boutique provider of parking management services for a multitude of venues including: entertainment and retail complexes, hotels, hospitals, medical centers, residential buildings, office buildings, airports, restaurants and various special events. Visit Ameripark.com for more information about the company.

Where to eat?

FedExForum is home to the NBA’s Memphis Grizzles, which is a positive and negative for fans attending a Memphis Tigers game. The positive is that the concessions are better quality than most college venues, but the negative is the higher concessions prices. The usual fare such as hot dogs, peanuts, pretzels, popcorn, candy, waffle fries, and nachos are relatively on the same price level as other venues at between $3 and $6 per item, with the best value out of these snacks being the bottomless popcorn at a slightly higher cost of $7.25.

In addition to the above items, FedExForum also has some local Memphis cuisine influence in the form of local vendors Memphis Burrito and Charlie Vergos Rendezvous. All burritos are $10 including bowls, and at Charlie’s there is BBQ, with pork or chicken in a sandwich at $9.25, or the nachos version for $10. Charlie’s also serves a vegetarian nacho option for $9.50.

Pepsi-Cola is the soft drink provider featured inside FedExForum, with Aquafina bottled water and regular sodas costing $5, and the much larger souvenir soda at $8; soda choices include Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Sierra Mist, Lipton tea, and Mountain Dew. FedExForum also serves alcohol beverages, and beer choices are plentiful throughout the arena. The stands serve classic domestic drafts of Bud Light, Budweiser, Stella Artois, and Michelob Ultra priced at $8 for regular draft, while the larger drafts are $10. A large premium can beer will cost $11.

The best place inside FedExForum for alcohol is Ghost River Brewing Co.  The brewing company serves outstanding craft beer for between $10 and $11.50 per glass, along with other alcohol such as wine and cocktails – the wine is $10 per glass while the cocktails cost $11 for a single or $18 for a double. Other eateries inside FedExForum that are able to serve alcohol are the four sit-down restaurants Opus, the Blue Note Lounge, the Horseshoe Club, and the Bud Light Bar; having these options for alcohol in addition to the regular concessions stands is the advantage of having an NBA arena as your home venue.

Atmosphere

FedExForum doesn’t provide the feeling of being at a college basketball game – the large arena feels more like the NCAA tournament site arenas, especially when only half the seats are filled. But the biggest difference from being at an NCAA tournament venue is that there is a sea of Memphis Blue throughout the arena instead of various colors representing multiple teams. The Memphis Tigers and FedExForum have the potential to be an outstanding college basketball atmosphere, but currently the atmosphere meets normal expectations.

The Memphis band sets up on the baseline behind one of the baskets where the student section is (Section 118), while the Memphis cheer squad lines up on the end line by the band; the Memphis dance team is situated on the baseline running down the court. Before player introductions, the team gets introduced with a very flashy video tribute that lasts around two minutes, with the lights dimmed in the arena. The rest of the atmosphere depends on the Memphis fans and the action during the game.

Memphis fans are knowledgable, but lately their presence has been missing in providing the atmosphere that college basketball features over the NBA. That said, the atmosphere at FedExForum has to be provided by the game day operations crew – the Memphis mascot Pouncer and the Memphis spirit squads provide plenty of entertainment to keep the fans engaged and excited during the game.

The spirit squads are seen regularly at college games, but the Memphis Cheerleaders are the 2019 NCAA National Champions in Cheerleading. The Memphis band also plays music, and there are also t-shirt tosses and the typical but well-deserved recognitions of other U of M athletes and teams during timeouts, for excellence in their own sports.

Neighborhood

FedExForum is located just off historic Beale Street, and a great neighborhood doesn’t get more convenient than that. The 1.8-mile long street is significant to Memphis’ history and the blues, and there are plenty of Blues clubs and restaurants to visit for fans that are attending events at FedExForum.

There are several enticing dining options in Miss Polly’s Soul City Café, a tasty soul food restaurant that is open for breakfast and lunch. Another restaurant that provides live blues entertainment while dining is B.B. King’s Blues Club; the breakfast menu here is very good, but add in the live music and the dining experience becomes elite.

Hard Rock Café is also a popular restaurant on Beale Street, located across the street from the bronze Elvis statue. For Elvis fans on Beale Street, check out Lansky Brothers; the “Clothier to The King.” Lansky Brothers became not only the clothier to Elvis, but other clients included B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Isaac Hayes, and Johnny Cash.

Right next to FedExForum is the Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum and the Gibson Guitar Factory Museum. However, although Beale Street provides a great tourist location for fans, the most famous tourist spot for people traveling to Memphis is about 8.5 miles south, near the Memphis Airport: Graceland. Graceland is the former home of Rock ‘N Roll legend Elvis Presley.

Being a downtown arena, FedExForum has plenty of lodging options as well. Across the street from the venue is the Westin Memphis-Beale Street, and the Hampton Inn & Suites-Memphis and DoubleTree Memphis are both within walking distance of the arena and Beale Street. Alternatively, if you want to make your visit to Memphis memorable, staying at the Memphis icon Hotel Peabody is a great choice. The hotel is currently celebrating its 150th anniversary, but even if you choose not to stay here, they offer $10 Hotel History Tours with the Peabody Duck master – this one-hour tour is a trip back in time for the “South’s Grand Hotel.”

Fans

Memphis basketball fans are one of the most loyal fan bases in college basketball. The fans travel very well during the NCAA tournament, but the Memphis basketball program hasn’t had much success on the court, which is hurting the attendance figures at FedExForum. Fans have a real challenge on their hands to get the gigantic FedExForum loud enough to make a huge impact.

A decade ago, Memphis fans filled FedExForum with an average of 16,993 fans per game, yet in a short period of time the attendance has fallen. Two seasons ago the average attendance was listed at 9,622, which isn’t bad for schools with small venues such as SMU’s Moody Coliseum, but in an 18,000-seat arena the fans here get lost in space. Last season (2018) the average attendance declined again to 6,225, so some might say that Memphis fans are bandwagon fans, but everyone loves a winner.

Nevertheless, these fans are a loyal group, are knowledgeable, and are involved with their team. They are also passionate, so once the program gets back to winning on the court, the attendance will rise, and the fans that are supporting the Tigers will be rewarded for the devotion to Memphis Basketball.

Design

FedExForum was designed by architectural firm Ellerbe Becket. Concrete work done with the help of Dowco Construction and Apac. The arena is 805,850 ft² (75,000 m²) in size, covering 14 acres (57,000 m²). The Arena is round, with a dome. The playing floor is lower than ground level. It is capable of seating 18,119 for basketball and has 1,000 premiere courtside seats.

There are 27 courtside suites, 32 club suites, 4 party suites, and 80 club boxes. It also contains a full-sized practice basketball court, visible from the huge lobby. The plans called for a mass transit bus depot, which brought a federal grant of $6 million, but the depot was changed to a premium parking garage, and Memphis had to return the money.

FedExForum’s interior was designed to pay tribute to Memphis’ musical heritage, with paintings and murals depicting some of the city’s most famous artists including Justin Timberlake, Elvis Presley, and B.B. King. Most of the Arena’s restaurants are named in conjunction with FedExForum’s overall theme of music with Opus Restaurant and the Blue Note Lounge. The two other restaurants are sponsor-driven with the Lexus Lounge just off the Arena Floor and Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 in the Grand Lobby of the Arena.

FedExForum was the first arena to utilize new “see-through” shot clock units which allow spectators seated behind the basket to see the action without having the clocks interfere with their view. The idea came when a fan of the NBA’s New Jersey Nets who sat behind the basket at Continental Airlines Arena sent an e-mail to NBA Commissioner David Stern, asking for technology to improve his view, and Daktronics obliged with the innovation at FedExForum.

The NBA approved the unit a year later for full use and has seen the new units installed at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center, Spectrum Center, TD Garden, Moda Center, Capital One Arena, State Farm Arena, and Staples Center after the approval. As of the NBA season every NBA arena had implemented the transparent shot clocks, with Pepsi Center, The Palace of Auburn Hills, Oracle Arena, Target Center, and Sleep Train Arena being the last NBA arenas to install the clocks.

Renovations

In order to keep the Grizzlies in Memphis, the City of Memphis has completed normal renovations to FedexForum to keep it up to NBA standards. The arena’s sound system was replaced and the main basketball court was replaced for the Grizzlies for $200,000, with the Tigers’ court being replaced the following year. Three years later, FedexForum completed a renovation for the backstage areas, including a new state-of-the-art video room, a renovation of the coaches’ offices, and office space for FedexForum employees.

The Grizzlies announced a $1.8 million renovation to the arena, which includes a brand new HD scoreboard four times the size of the former, new HD displays, new LED Lighting, and other additional fan amenities, which were completed in time for the beginning of the NBA Season.