Memphis Mayor Wants Liberty Bowl Upgrades, Not New Stadium

Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton said that he has "dropped plans for a new football stadium and now favors upgrading" the Liberty Bowl, according to Jacinthia Jones of the Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL. Herenton indicated that a "better economic move for the city overall ... is to build a new convention center or expand Memphis Cook Convention Center." Herenton: "To build a new stadium is not in the best interest according to the sentiments that I'm getting from the Memphis community." Herenton said the city will invest "heavily" in upgrades for the Liberty Bowl, including renovating restrooms, locker rooms and the media center. Univ. of Memphis (UM) booster Harold Byrd, who is awaiting the results of a feasibility study expected to be completed next month, said if the results come back and “say it's feasible for [UM] to put a stadium on campus, then that puts [UM] in the position of answering the question: If the University of Central Florida and the University of Louisville can do it -- and it does not interfere with their academic programs -- why can't we do it?” Herenton in January '07 pitched the idea of a new stadium over spending $50M to upgrade the Liberty Bowl and raze the Mid-South Coliseum. Projections for a new 45,000-50,000-seat stadium have ranged from $150-180M (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 1/30).