http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/201...financing/

This is great news for Memphis and The Big East.
CJ

Here's an article from the Commercial Appeal:

Memphis City Council approves upgrades to Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
University of Memphis, FedEx to back $9 million toward project
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/201...ty-bowl-m/

(04-04-2012 10:42 AM)KnightLight Wrote:  Here's an article from the Commercial Appeal:

Memphis City Council approves upgrades to Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
University of Memphis, FedEx to back $9 million toward project
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/201...ty-bowl-m/

Excerpt:

The University of Memphis and FedEx will help fund $9 million in improvements to Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, according to a plan approved Tuesday by the City Council.

Under the plan, the city will apply to the state for Tourist Development Zone status for the Fairgrounds area, allowing tax revenues to be spent to pay off the bonds that will fund the improvements. Officials didn’t seem overly concerned that receiving TDZ status from the state would be difficult, but the UofM is offering a $500,000 annual guarantee over 15 years in case there is a snag and FedEx plans to cover the costs for a $2.5 million video board.

“The taxpayers are not being asked to spend one dime on these improvements to the Liberty Bowl,” said City Councilman Reid Hedgepeth, who proposed the measure.

The improvements, which officials hope are ready in time for the Tigers’ Sept. 1 opener, include:

■ $2.8 million in infrastructure, from paint to other components;

■ $1.8 million in new lighting, which would provide 30 percent more light at 50 percent of the current energy cost;

■ $200,000 to refurbish existing press box elevators;

■ $800,000 for a new synthetic turf field;

■ $900,000 to improve existing concession stands and add new ones.

The video board’s cost is estimated at $2.5 million, but that could change depending on the bids that are received. Original concepts had included two video boards, but they were scaled back. Constructing the video board, which will replace the current one on the south side of the stadium, will likely take the longest amount of time.

UofM athletic director R.C. Johnson said the new video board would be a “great big monster,” and a short video of a potential new board that was shown to the council backed him up.

The Jumbotron will be similar to the one at Mississippi State.

(04-04-2012 11:32 AM)Tigers2B1 Wrote:  The Jumbotron will be similar to the one at Mississippi State.

Nicccccccccccccccccccccccccccccceee!!!

(04-04-2012 10:32 AM)3601 Wrote:  http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/201...financing/

Personally, I don't like Jumbotrons or Field Turf at all, but I do understand that this is great news for the Liberty Bowl and the Big East.

(04-04-2012 12:04 PM)TerryD Wrote:  Personally, I don't like Jumbotrons or Field Turf at all, but I do understand that this is great news for the Liberty Bowl and the Big East.

Likewise.

(04-04-2012 12:04 PM)TerryD Wrote:  

(04-04-2012 10:32 AM)3601 Wrote:  http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/201...financing/

Personally, I don't like Jumbotrons or Field Turf at all, but I do understand that this is great news for the Liberty Bowl and the Big East.

If I recall my last game at ND, it might have been devoid of a large jumbotron?
Good thing about field turf is that it makes your stadium more user friendly.
Nippert Stadium hosts multiple high school games every year and often playoff games. UC practices @Nippert sometimes also.

I am probably less of a traditional football fan mainly due to UC's urban nature and ultra modern campus. But I love all venues, including making 12 straight ND-Purdue games.

I would not mind seeing exotic dancers on top of massive multimedia jumbotrons.

(04-04-2012 12:04 PM)TerryD Wrote:  

(04-04-2012 10:32 AM)3601 Wrote:  http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/201...financing/

Personally, I don't like Jumbotrons or Field Turf at all, but I do understand that this is great news for the Liberty Bowl and the Big East.

I like jumbotrons but I'm not attached to them. On the other hand, FieldTurf is a vastly superior surface for football. IIRC, haven't studies shown it has fewer lower body injuries than natural grass. Then there's the whole it isn't a mudpit after/during a big rain or snow storm.

But it is great news!

Good news! Love the Liberty Bowl!

(04-04-2012 12:22 PM)SuperFlyBCat Wrote:  I would not mind seeing exotic dancers on top of massive multimedia jumbotrons.

Well ... yeah.

The jumbotron is a much needed addition to the Liberty Bowl. Hopefully the infrastructure changes do something about the lines to enter the stadium. I got the gate about 45 minutes before the kick and it still took about 30 minutes to get inside the stadium.

I think the important thing to take away from this is FedEx's commitment to the University of Memphis. If only every university had such a generous corporate sponsor! Now let's go after a BCS bowl!

For the BIG EAST to remain a longterm viable Football Conference it going to need a couple of thing especially it it goes to some sort of Top 3/4 ranked conference champion format that has been pushed through the media.

1. Notre Dame to @ least remain Independant and continue it relationship with the BIG EAST in regards to bowls.

2. Commitment from Fred Smith/Fed Ex to maybe secure a Bowl Sponsorship with either the Sugar Bowl/Cotton Bowl or Fiesta Bowl in the coming era conference bowl alignment.

3. TV contract in @ least the range of the ACC.

(04-04-2012 02:36 PM)Maize Wrote:  For the BIG EAST to remain a longterm viable Football Conference it going to need a couple of thing especially it it goes to some sort of Top 3/4 ranked conference champion format that has been pushed through the media.

1. Notre Dame to @ least remain Independant and continue it relationship with the BIG EAST in regards to bowls.

2. Commitment from Fred Smith/Fed Ex to maybe secure a Bowl Sponsorship with either the Sugar Bowl/Cotton Bowl or Fiesta Bowl in the coming era conference bowl alignment.

3. TV contract in @ least the range of the ACC.

From the evidence it doesn't look like Notre Dame is going anywhere, so that part should be satisfied for the foreseeable future.

Point number 2 will take some work, but it's not due to hit fruition until the current deals expire after the 2014(?) season.

Point number 3 is definitely attainable, and we will know come september. The good thing about the relatively soon deadline is that we will for sure know who #14 is before that happens.

It's a good sign from U of M, that they are taking the first step in improving Liberty Bowl since joining the Big East.

Hopefully the Big East does get a relatively good TV deal. This is what Arizona State is planning with their new $20 million a year tv deal.



It does look ugly....

Congrats,Memphis. Sounds great, hope to see it in person.

Our athletic director said it would rival Texas' Godzillatron. So I expect it to be bigger than the one at Miss State. ANd it will be the largest in the Big East