Concerns over Memphis Redbirds grow following departure of 901 FC
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – Mid-South soccer fans lit up the internet on Wednesday, posting their disappointment about Memphis 901 FC bailing on the Bluff City.
The United Soccer League franchise confirmed it’s moving to Santa Barbara, California, where a brand new stadium awaits.
And now, concern grows about the future of the Memphis Redbirds, the city’s minor league baseball team, as its leader makes an impassioned plea for city leaders to find the money to fix up AutoZone Park, the stadium showing its age after nearly a quarter century of use.
It was a pie-in-the-sky dream: knock down the abandoned Mid-South Coliseum at Liberty Park and replace it with a first-class soccer stadium that could hold 10,000 fans.
But, Memphis couldn’t afford the $52 million price tag. And even as soccer fans cry in their beers, the GM of the Redbirds is crying out for money to keep his team firmly planted in Memphis.
“Kinda sent everyone into a tailspin of like, what? I was shocked, but at the same time I wasn’t shocked,” said Zach Thomas, co-owner of Bluff City Media, home of the 901 Soccer Podcast, “It was almost too good to be true.”
Thomas said he wanted that beautiful rendering of the new soccer stadium – shared by the city in 2023 – to become reality, especially since 901 FC and the USL made it clear that the team required a new stadium to remain in Memphis.
But in June, after Sporting Director and M-Town favorite Tim Howard announced he was leaving the team after five years to pursue other opportunities, and it became increasingly clear there wasn’t enough money to go around, the handwriting appeared on the wall.
“You know, once the funding wasn’t there for a new stadium, I knew we were limited on time,” Thomas told Action News 5. “It’s disappointing for sure.”
Governor Bill Lee’s administration sent $350 million to Memphis to finance work on sports stadiums.
A big chunk of that funds the half-billion-dollar renovation of FedExForum where the Memphis Grizzlies play.
The rest went to the University of Memphis to help with the $220 million transformation of Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium where the Memphis Tigers play football.
“The Grizzlies are going to get the money and the Tigers are going to get the money because that’s what brings the tax dollars in,” said Thomas. “Basketball and the Grizzlies bring so much more money to the city.”
Thomas said it’s a sad day for soccer fans like him, but he’s more worried now about an uncertain future for baseball fans.
Craig Unger, the general manager of the Redbirds, Memphis’ Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, posted to social media:
“AutoZone Park was not allocated any of the state funding. The city deployed $5 million to help bring the city-owned facility into compliance with MLB standards before next year’s PDL deadline. There is still a long list of vital needs that must be addressed for AutoZone Park to maintain a Triple-A club.”
Memphis Mayor Paul Young offered assurances Wednesday night.
“We’re going to continue to work on that list of things,” he told Action News 5, “We want to make sure that, ultimately, the Redbirds are playing in a top-of-class stadium.”
Soccer fans, now without a hometown team, still have good memories of four years of playoff games, and motivation to keep the growing soccer frenzy alive in Memphis and Shelby County.
“So rather than looking at what failed,” said Thomas, “I look at it and go, ‘man, what an opportunity we had,’ and know we can hopefully build on that for the future!”
Thomas said a soccer stadium farther east would work better because it’s more accessible for fans, and attendance might be higher than it was at the Downtown location.
Renovating the Mike Rose soccer complex was never an option for 901 FC.
The United Soccer League wanted an all-new stadium, and that’s exactly what they’re getting in Santa Barbara.
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