Liberty Bowl's Main Tenants Yet To Sign Lease Agreements
None of the Liberty Bowl's three main tenants -- the Univ. of Memphis (UM), the AutoZone Liberty Bowl and the Southern Heritage Classic (SHC) -- "has a deal in place to play there this season," according to Jim Masilak of the Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL. AutoZone Liberty Bowl Exec Dir Steve Ehrhart said that the "debate about whether to build a new stadium at the Fairgrounds or to refurbish the current structure, combined with talk about a possible on-campus stadium at [UM], held up lease negotiations." Ehrhart added that he is "confident of reaching an agreement with the city sooner rather than later." Memphis Dir of Park Services Cindy Buchanan said, "We're still negotiating. Sometimes negotiations don't (go) the way you want them to go. ... We have met with all three. We're continuing discussions." Meanwhile, UM AD R.C. Johnson said that "getting a deal done is high on his agenda." Johnson said that UM "once played an entire football season at the Liberty Bowl without a signed contract." The school has "traditionally signed two-year lease agreements," and Johnson "would likely pursue a deal of similar length." However, SHC Founder Fred Jones "sounded less sanguine about his situation." Jones: "I need a contract in order to get support for my events. It's something we need to have happen" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 6/4).
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