FedExForum
FedExForum is a multi-purpose indoor 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 the Memphis Pyramid. The venue also has the capability of hosting ice hockey games, concerts, and family shows.
For the stadium formerly known as FedExField in Landover, Maryland, see Commanders Field.Address
191 Beale Street
Basketball: 17,794
Ice hockey: 16,411
Concert: 19,000
June 20, 2002
September 6, 2004
US$250 million
($403 million in 2023 dollars[1])
Ellerbe Becket[2]
Looney Ricks Kiss[3]
Jackson Person & Associates, Inc.[3]
Self Tucker Architects Inc.[3]
PC Sports[4]
ABS-EQE Structural Engineers[2]
M.A. Mortenson Company[2]
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. 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's best-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).
Hosted events[edit]
College basketball[edit]
On February 23, 2008, FedExForum hosted the college basketball game featuring the No. 1 ranked Memphis Tigers vs. the No. 2 ranked Tennessee Volunteers. The facility also hosted the Conference USA men's basketball tournament from 2005 to 2009. It was the site of the South regional semifinals and finals in the 2009, 2014, and 2017 editions of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, and first and second round games of the 2024 tournament. FedExForum was one of the four regional finals in the 2010 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament.
On March 12–15, 2014, the American Athletic Conference hosted their inaugural tournament at the FedExForum. It hosted the tournament again in 2019.[7]
Hockey[edit]
On September 21, 2006, the Nashville Predators and the Columbus Blue Jackets played an NHL preseason game at FedExForum, the first ice hockey game ever held at the arena, won by the Predators 8-1.[8]
Boxing, WWE & MMA[edit]
On September 25, 2004, FedExForum hosted the Roy Jones Jr. vs. Glen Johnson for the IBF Light heavyweight title. Johnson won the fight with a 9th-round knockout.
FedExForum has hosted three major professional wrestling events. In 2007, World Wrestling Entertainment's Unforgiven took place on September 16, headlined by The Undertaker and Mark Henry, and the PMG Clash of Legends independent show on April 27, featuring Hulk Hogan versus Paul Wight. In 2015, it hosted Fastlane on February 22. The first of five WWE house shows took place on September 19, 2004, shortly after the venue opened. It has hosted seven episodes of WWE Raw and four of WWE SmackDown. One notable instance of WWE at the arena was when Daniel Bryan "occupied" Raw with hundreds of his fans inside the ring and surrounding the ringside area on March 10, 2014.[9]
On December 12, 2009, FedExForum hosted an Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight title fight, UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez
Other events[edit]
In August 2010, the Professional Bull Riders' Built Ford Tough Series tour made their first appearance at FedExForum.[10]
On August 4, 2010, FedExForum held the memorial service to Memphis native Lorenzen Wright, a Memphis Tigers alum and former Memphis Grizzlies player.
The Church of God in Christ, Inc. (COGIC) is a Christian organization in the Holiness-Pentecostal tradition. It is the largest Pentecostal denomination in the United States held their annual Convocation at the FedExForum from 2004 to 2007.
The arena hosted Monster Jam for a few years, then in 2019 hosted Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live.