Sports in Memphis, Tennessee

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The FedEx Forum, home of the Memphis Grizzlies and the University of Memphis Tigers basketball teams FedExForum.jpg
The FedEx Forum, home of the Memphis Grizzlies and the University of Memphis Tigers basketball teams

Sports in Memphis, Tennessee are supported in the city by Memphis Park Services, which offers a wide range of public facilities, including 17 swimming pools, 8 public golf courses, 48 athletic fields hosting a range of 510 youth and 269 adult teams, 130 basketball courts (101 outdoor and 29 indoor), 7 tennis centers and a soccer complex. [1]

Contents

Memphis is also home to professional sports teams in basketball, baseball and other sports. Golf, basketball, baseball and tennis are popular recreational sports in Memphis.

Overview of professional teams

Major league teams

TeamSportLeagueVenue
Memphis Grizzlies Basketball National Basketball Association FedExForum

Minor league teams

TeamSportLeagueVenue
Memphis Redbirds Baseball International League AutoZone Park
Memphis 901 FC Soccer USL Championship AutoZone Park
Memphis Hustle Basketball NBA G League Landers Center (Southaven, Mississippi)

Basketball

The Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association is the only one of the "big four" major sports leagues in the city. The team played at the Pyramid Arena from 2001–2004 and then moved to the FedExForum in downtown Memphis. The Grizzlies' NBA G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle, plays its home games at the Landers Center in the suburb of Southaven, Mississippi.

The Memphis Tigers men's and women's teams represent the University of Memphis in NCAA Division I college basketball. The Tigers compete in the American Athletic Conference; the men share FedExForum with the Grizzlies and the women play home games on campus at Elma Roane Fieldhouse.

The Memphis Houn'Dawgs was an American Basketball Association (ABA) team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The team began play in the fall of 2000. The team played in the DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven, Mississippi, and only played the 2000-2001 ABA season before disbanding. The name was an apparent nod to the proposed NFL franchise team, the Memphis Hound Dogs (in turn, a nod to the song of the same name by Elvis Presley) which never got off the ground.

Baseball

The entrance to AutoZone Park AutoZone Park outside 2.jpg
The entrance to AutoZone Park

Memphis has been home to several professional baseball teams since as early as 1877. The city's first Minor League Baseball team was the Memphis Reds of the League Alliance. In 1885, another team nicknamed the Reds joined the original Southern League. They were followed by the Southern League's Grays (1886), Browns (1887), Grays (1888), and an unnamed team in 1889. Later entries in the league were the Giants (1892), Fever Germs (1893), and Giants/Lambs (1894–95). Memphis fielded teams in the Southern Association from 1901 to 1960. They were known as the Memphis Egyptians (1901–1908), Turtles (1909–1911), and Chicks (1912–1960).

The Memphis Eclipses and Memphis Eurekas played in the Negro league Southern League of Colored Base Ballists in 1886. The Memphis Red Sox played in various Negro leagues in 1920 and from 1923 to 1950. The Memphis Blues competed in the Negro Southern League in 1947.

From 1968 to 1976, the Memphis Blues played in the Double-A Texas League (1968–1973) and the Triple-A International League (1974–1976). The Memphis Chicks played in the Double-A Southern League from 1978 to 1997. The city has been home to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds, the top farm club of the St. Louis Cardinals, since 1998. They were members of the Pacific Coast League from 1998 to 2020. In conjunction with Major League Baseball's reorganization of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Redbirds were placed in the Triple-A East, which became the International League in 2022. The Redbirds play their home games at AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis. [2]

Football

Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium from the air. LibertyBowlMemorialStadiumUSGSsat.png
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium from the air.

The University of Memphis Tigers football team plays their home games in Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The Memphis Kings is an amateur football team that plays in the North American Football League. The Panthers play at Robert Halle Stadium.

Memphis has hosted several professional football teams for brief periods over the years. The Memphis Tigers played there in the late 1920s and early 1930s,. [3] In more recent years the city has been host to teams from five different professional leagues. Memphis held a franchise, the Memphis Southmen, in the short-lived professional World Football League (1974–1975). The Memphis Showboats played in the United States Football League (1984–1985). The Memphis Mad Dogs were an expansion franchise of the Canadian Football League in 1995. The NFL's Tennessee Titans, formerly known as the Houston Oilers, relocated to Memphis for one season (as the Tennessee Oilers) in 1997 before moving to Nashville. Most recently the Memphis Maniax represented the city in the XFL (2001). Each of these teams called the Liberty Bowl their home field.

Memphis also saw indoor football in the forms of the Memphis Pharaohs in the Arena Football League (1995-1996) who played home games at Pyramid Arena, and the Memphis Xplorers in AF2 (2000-2006) who played their home games at DeSoto Civic Center in the nearby suburb city of Southaven, Mississippi.

In 2018, the Alliance of American Football announced the city's franchise team, the Memphis Express, would begin play in 2019 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. [4]

Golf

Golf is a very popular form of recreation in Memphis, which has eight municipal courses. [5] The City's first public facility, Galloway Golf Course, was created in 1923. [6] There are now over 30 public and private golf courses in the Memphis Metropolitan Area. [7] Memphis is home to the annual FedEx St. Jude Classic, a regular part of the PGA TOUR.

Ice hockey

The Mississippi RiverKings were a professional ice hockey team in the Central Hockey League and Southern Professional Hockey League from 1992 to 2018. The RiverKings played at the Landers Center in nearby Southaven, Mississippi.

Motorsports

Memphis is also home to Memphis International Raceway, just north of the city on the outskirts of Memphis and Millington, TN. The venue has a 3/4-mile (1207 m) paved oval track. It also has a 1/4-mile (402 m) drag strip, and road course. The complex is home to NASCAR, IHRA, and SCCA sanctioned events as well as locally sanctioned events that run from February to November.

Another racetrack in the Memphis metro area is Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Arkansas. It is a 1/4 mile dirt track that runs 305 winged sprints, late models, modifieds, 600cc mini sprints, and stock-cars. The Track opened June 10th, 1950 making it one of the longest continuously operated tracks in the nation. It is the home track to 6 National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Members. Clarence "Hooker" Hood, Rick Hood, Sammy Swindell. Jeff Swindell. Bobby Davis Jr and Greg Hodnett.

Memphis area also has a very active Kart racing organization with Kart racing at Atoka Raceway Park and Coyote Run Arena in Mason

Rugby

Memphis is also home to the Memphis Blues, a Rugby Union team, which plays at Tobey Field in Midtown, Memphis.

Memphis Women's Rugby is a women's senior club team (Rugby Union) which also plays at Tobey Field in Midtown, Memphis. The team is a member of USA Rugby South, Division II. [8]

Roller derby

Memphis has an active presence in the derby world courtesy of Memphis Roller Derby. The team is a sanctioned member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association and competes in the South Central Region. The Memphis league has four home teams that compete in intra-league bouts, plus one travel team that competes in other cities.

Tennis

Memphis Park Services maintains seven public tennis centers. [1] Memphis is home to the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships and the Cellular South Cup. The Regions Morgan Keegan Championships is an ATP event, and the Cellular South Cup is a WTA event. The senior event, the Stanford Championships started in Memphis, but it has since relocated to Dallas, Texas.

Wrestling

Memphis also has a fertile history when it comes to pro wrestling. The sport's greatest name to come out of the city is Jerry "The King" Lawler. Other greats who started out in Memphis include Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Mick Foley, "Macho Man" Randy Savage", and Ric Flair. Memphis has two pro-wrestling organizations, "Power-Pro Wrestling" which is filmed in the Cook Convention Center in downtown Memphis, and Memphis Wrestling which is filmed in the DeSoto Civic Center in Desoto County, Mississippi.

Overview of collegiate teams

TeamStadium
Memphis Tigers men's basketball FedExForum
Memphis Tigers women's basketball Elma Roane Fieldhouse
Memphis Tigers football Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Memphis Tigers baseball FedExPark
Memphis Tigers soccer Mike Rose Soccer Complex
Memphis Tigers softballTigers Softball Complex
Memphis Tigers golfFrank L. Flautt Golf Center
Memphis Tigers tennis Racquet Club of Memphis
Rhodes Lynx basketballMallory-Hyde Gymnasium
Rhodes Lynx footballCrain Field
Christian Brothers Buccaneers basketballCanale Arena
Christian Brothers Buccaneers soccerSignaigo Field
Christian Brothers Buccaneers baseballNadicksbernd Field
Christian Brothers Buccaneers softballBland Field

Overview of defunct professional teams

TeamLeagueSeason(s)Stadium
Memphis Rogues North American Soccer League 1978–1980 Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Memphis Americans Major Indoor Soccer League 1981–1984 Mid-South Coliseum
Memphis Showboats United States Football League 1984–1986 Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Memphis Storm American Indoor Soccer League 1986–1990 Mid-South Coliseum
Memphis Storm Southwest Indoor Soccer League 1990–1994 Shelby Farms Show Place Arena
Memphis RiverKings
Mississippi RiverKings
Central Hockey League
Southern Professional Hockey League
1992–2018 Landers Center
Memphis Express USL Professional Development League 2002–2005 Mike Rose Soccer Complex/Collierville High School
Memphis Express Alliance of American Football 2019 Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium

Memphis has been represented by several now-defunct professional sports franchises, including the Memphis Pharaohs of Arena Football, the Memphis Maniax of the XFL, the Memphis Xplorers of the AF2, the Memphis Showboats of the USFL, the Memphis Southmen of the WFL, the Memphis Houn'Dawgs of the ABA, the Memphis Sounds of the original ABA in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and the Memphis Mad Dogs of the CFL.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southaven, Mississippi</span> City in Mississippi, United States

Southaven is a city in DeSoto County, Mississippi, United States. It is a principal city in Greater Memphis. The 2020 census reported a population of 54,648, making Southaven the third-largest city in Mississippi and the second most populous suburb of Memphis. Southaven is traversed north to south by the I-55/I-69 freeway. The city's name derives from the fact that Southaven is located south of Whitehaven, a neighborhood in Memphis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Memphis Southmen</span> Former American football team in the World Football League

The Memphis Southmen, also known as the Memphis Grizzlies, were an American football team based in Memphis, Tennessee. They played in the World Football League (WFL), which operated in 1974 and 1975. They played their home games at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Memphis Sounds</span> Basketball team in Memphis, Tennessee

The Memphis Sounds were an American professional sports franchise that played in Memphis, Tennessee from 1970 until 1975 as a member of the American Basketball Association. The team was founded as the New Orleans Buccaneers in 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mid-South Coliseum</span> Arena in Tennessee, United States

Mid-South Coliseum is an indoor arena in Memphis, Tennessee. The facility was opened in 1964, and became known “The Entertainment Capitol of the Mid-South” due its significance in hosting events such as concerts, sports games and professional wrestling shows. The Coliseum closed in 2006. In the late 2010s, efforts emerged to help preserve and refurbish the arena as part of a larger redevelopment of the surrounding area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Landers Center</span> Arena in Mississippi, United States

The Landers Center is an 8,400-seat multi-purpose arena in Southaven, Mississippi. It is home to the Memphis Hustle of the NBA G League, a minor league basketball team affiliated with the Memphis Grizzlies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports in Pittsburgh</span>

Sports in Pittsburgh have been played dating back to the American Civil War. Baseball, hockey, and the first professional American football game had been played in the city by 1892. Pittsburgh was first known as the "City of Champions" when the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Panthers football team, and Pittsburgh Steelers won multiple championships in the 1970s. Today, the city has three major professional sports franchises, the Pirates, Steelers, and Penguins; while the University of Pittsburgh Panthers compete in a Division I Power Five conference, the highest level of collegiate athletics in the United States, in both football and basketball. Local universities Duquesne and Robert Morris also field Division I teams in men's and women's basketball and Division I FCS teams in football. Robert Morris also fields Division I men's and women's ice hockey teams.

Northpoint Christian School (NCS) is a private, coeducational, college preparatory Christian school located in Southaven, Mississippi. NCS was founded in 1973 by a group of Baptist ministers in the Whitehaven section of Memphis, Tennessee. Programs for kindergarten through Grade 8 began in 1973, and grades 9-12 were added the following year. The school is dually accredited with SAIS and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. NCS is also a member of the Association of Christian Schools International, the TAIS, and the TSSAA. As of 2014, the school was the third-largest private school in Greater Memphis. For the 2022-2023 school year, they are celebrating their 50th anniversary of the schools creation.

Sports in Georgia include professional teams, Olympic Games contenders and medalists, collegiate teams in major and small-school conferences and associations, and active amateur teams and individual sports.

Sports in Indianapolis include major league franchises, collegiate athletics, and a variety of other club and individual sporting events that have taken place in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Indianapolis is the home to 11 professional sports teams. The city is also home to three National Collegiate Athletic Association collegiate teams. Two teams from the four major American leagues, the Indianapolis Colts and Indiana Pacers, are located in Indianapolis.

Evansville, Indiana is the home to two minor league professional sports teams and one amateur sports team. The city is also the home to two NCAA collegiate teams, and nine high schools that participate in the Indiana High School Athletic Association. Evansville is also the host to the annual Hoosier Nationals and Demolition City Roller Derby.

Jacksonville is home to a number of professional sports teams, and the city has a long history of athletics. The Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL) compete at the major league level. Additionally, the PGA Tour is headquartered in the suburb of Ponte Vedra Beach, where it hosts The Players Championship every year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports in San Diego</span>

Sports in San Diego include one men's major professional sports team, several teams from other highest-level professional leagues, minor league teams, semi-pro and club teams, and college athletics. The most popular team in San Diego is the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). Also popular locally are the college teams of the San Diego State Aztecs, which play in NCAA Division I (FBS).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports in Atlanta</span>

Sports in Atlanta has a rich history, including the oldest on-campus NCAA Division I football stadium, Bobby Dodd Stadium, built in 1913 by the students of Georgia Tech. Atlanta also played host to the second intercollegiate football game in the South, played between the A&M College of Alabama and the University of Georgia in Piedmont Park in 1892; this game is now called the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry. The city hosts college football's annual Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and the Peachtree Road Race, the world's largest 10 km race. Atlanta was the host city for the Centennial 1996 Summer Olympics, and Downtown Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park was built for and commemorates the games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports in Orange County, California</span>

Sports in Orange County, California includes a number of sports teams and sports competitions. Within Orange County, the city of Anaheim currently hosts two major league sports teams — MLB's Los Angeles Angels and the NHL's Anaheim Ducks — and used to host two others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports in Dallas</span>

The city of Dallas and the Dallas metropolitan division is home to teams in six major sports: the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, Texas Rangers, Dallas Stars, FC Dallas and Dallas Wings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports in Miami</span>

The Greater Miami area is home to five major league sports teams — the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League, the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association, the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball, the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League and Inter Miami CF of Major League Soccer.

The expansion of the National Basketball Association has happened several times in the league's history since it began play in 1946. The most recent examples of the expansion of the NBA are the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat in 1988, Minnesota Timberwolves and Orlando Magic in 1989, Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies in 1995, and New Orleans Pelicans in 2002. In June 2022, Commissioner Adam Silver confirmed that while there are no current plans to expand beyond 30 teams, the NBA "invariably will expand."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Memphis Hustle</span> American professional basketball team of the NBA G League

The Memphis Hustle are an American professional basketball team of the NBA G League based in the Greater Memphis suburb of Southaven, Mississippi, and are affiliated with the Memphis Grizzlies. The team plays their home games at the Landers Center.

The Memphis Chicks were a Minor League Baseball team that played in the Southern Association from 1901 to 1960. They were located in Memphis, Tennessee, and played their home games at Russwood Park. Known originally as the Memphis Egyptians and Memphis Turtles before becoming the Memphis Chickasaws, often shortened to Chicks, they were charter members of the Southern Association.

References

  1. 1 2 "City of Memphis". www.cityofmemphis.org.
  2. "Memphis, Tennessee Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  3. Lauderdale, Vance Ask Vance: Coach Houses Memphis Magazine March 1, 2008
  4. Gallant, Jacob. "Memphis Express unveils schedule for inaugural season". www.wmcactionnews5.com. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  5. "City of Memphis". www.cityofmemphis.org.
  6. "City of Memphis". www.cityofmemphis.org.
  7. "26 Golf Courses near Memphis, TN - Reviews & Ratings - GolfLink". www.golflink.com.
  8. "Official Memphis Women's Rugby Website".