Effort to revitalize Mud Island Amphitheater continues
By:
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – There’s a major effort to revive one of Memphis’ most treasured landmarks.
Dozens met Wednesday to talk about saving the Mud Island Amphitheater.
The venue hasn’t hosted a concert since 2018 but there’s a growing community effort to change that.
“Are we ready to save the Mud Island Amphitheater?” Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy chanted at the beginning of the meeting. The crowd cheered in response to the DA’s enthusiasm for the project.
Hosted by the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Memphis, a community meeting took place Wednesday at Loflin Yard to discuss the amphitheater’s future.
“This is the community’s movement to say, ‘Well, if no one else is going to do it, we are,’” said Jerred Price, the president of the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Memphis. “This would benefit our city. Not only is spending money there going to electrify the space, it’s also going to bring people back to Downtown and keep our tax dollars here instead of moving them over to Mississippi at the Snowden Grove Amphitheater.”
Dozens from the community showed up in support of re-opening the venue. In an online survey conducted during the meeting, Memphians had a lot to say about what they want to see done at the amphitheater.
“A venue that could support the smaller concerts that might not want to go to the FedEx Forum but gives us an opportunity to bring in our local artists,” said Ashley White, a Memphis resident who attended today’s meeting.
“It’s a part of Memphis,” Annemie Miller added. “It’s in the middle of the river, I mean, how much better can it get.”
Other feedback from Memphians during Wednesday’s community input session included requests to add more restrooms, new seating and even a canopy or covering for rain.
Local leaders, including Memphis City Council Chair JB Smiley and Shelby County Commissioner Britney Thornton, were in attendance.
“I just love to see people care — people put pressure on us as the elected to perform because it’s important,” Thornton said, referring to Wednesday’s turnout. “If you just leave it up to us, just to make decisions, then what a disappointment.”
State Sen. Brent Taylor, who also addressed the crowd, says although he fully supports the project, the focus to curb crime remains priority.
“People don’t want to go Downtown and go to a restaurant or an amphitheater for a concert only to come back to their car and it’s been broken into,” Taylor told FOX13. “We have to get crime under control. We have people who have membership at the zoo that are dropping their membership. We have people who have season tickets at the University of Memphis that are dropping their season tickets. People don’t come to the Downtown restaurants like they used to.”
The amphitheater currently sits vacant in Downtown Memphis.
Price said the projected cost of the project is between $20-$25 million.
The City of Memphis has proposed around $17 million toward the project.
“It was about $17 million and we know that number could increase or decrease based on what the council decides to do, but I do know we have a lot of strong advocates for revitalizing the amphitheater,” Smiley explained.
Wednesday’s meeting was the third one in the effort to revive the location.
The group plans to use the data collected Wednesday toward a national search for developers and a proposal. That information will then be submitted to Memphis City Council leaders at a later date.
About Post Author
