Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium: Guide for Visiting Fans

Memphis International Airport (MEM) is about 8 miles from the stadium, with a road distance of roughly 6.7 miles. By car or rideshare, expect about 11 minutes in normal traffic — though on game day with road closures, budget 20–30 minutes. Flying into MEM is your only real commercial option; there's no regional rail connecting the airport.

You can reach the stadium by MATA bus — the routes with stops nearby are the 1, 32, and 34. MATA Transit services depart from Poplar Avenue at 3rd Street and arrive at Southern Avenue at Hollywood Street, right by the stadium. The fare is $2 for a day pass, but service runs only once an hour and weekend schedules are reduced — so don't count on a convenient post-game bus; check the schedule before you commit. For most away fans, rideshare is the realistic option. Drop-off zones are along Glenn Rogers, Sr. Street (formerly South Hollywood). Before the game, that street runs one-way southbound from Central Avenue toward Access 4, with all four lanes moving southbound. If you're driving from downtown, I-240 gets you close — exit onto East Parkway and follow the event signage from there.

All event day parking purchases are cashless — only credit/debit card is accepted on game days. Buy your pass in advance online through the Memphis Athletics ticket office or JustPark; the closer lots sell out for big games. Pre-paid parking pass holders should have passes loaded on their phones before approaching parking gates, as they'll come in the form of an email if purchased through JustPark.

Liberty Park — the complex surrounding the stadium — includes 15 acres of Tiger Lane, a 27,000 sq. ft. Pipkin Building, and over 90 additional acres of green space and parking lots. General parking in the surrounding lots runs roughly $20–$30 on game day; premium lots closer to the gates can hit $40+. The ADA lot is first come, first served for patrons with ADA placards. Arrive at least 90 minutes before kickoff to get a spot within easy walking distance. The lots off East Parkway to the north tend to clear a bit faster post-game than the southern lots, which funnel directly into the post-game one-way traffic pattern.

Midtown Memphis is the obvious call. It's walkable to dining and nightlife, has genuine personality (independent coffee shops, record stores, mid-century bungalows), and puts you inside a 10-minute Lyft or 20-minute walk of the stadium. The Memphian, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, is located in the heart of Overton Square — the Memphis theater district — surrounded by dining, entertainment, and shopping. It's stylish, not budget-friendly (expect $150–$220/night on game weekends), but the location is genuinely excellent.

If you want to save money, Downtown Memphis hotels are a solid fallback. The Hyatt Centric Beale Street Memphis has air-conditioned rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, free WiFi and a fitness center. You're 5–6 miles from the stadium, which means a rideshare, but you're in the middle of everything Memphis has to offer at night — Beale Street, the Civil Rights Museum, and the river. Budget chains cluster around the Medical Center corridor on Madison Avenue, keeping you close to Midtown without the boutique price tag.

Central BBQ — Multiple locations around Memphis, but the one nearest the stadium (on Central Avenue) is a legitimate institution. Memphis dry-rub ribs, pulled pork nachos, and cold beer. This is the right pre-game meal for a Memphis visit. Get there early or expect a line on game day. Central BBQ offers Memphis-style smoked meats and is a good option near the stadium if you're looking for local flavors.

Celtic Crossing — An Irish pub on Cooper Street in Midtown, a short rideshare from the stadium. Celtic Crossing features traditional Irish fare and is a great spot for drinks before or after the game. Unpretentious, lively on game nights, and a reliable place to watch other games while you wait out traffic.

The Memphian Bar / Overton Square area — If you're staying near Overton Square, the whole strip gives you options: good cocktails, live music drifting out of open doors, and enough restaurant variety that your whole travel group will find something. Bar DKDC on Cooper has a well-curated cocktail program and a crowd that skews local rather than tourist.

Payne's Bar-B-Q — Travelers fly into Memphis and head straight to Payne's right from the airport. It's a tiny, legendary chopped pork sandwich spot that represents the other side of Memphis BBQ — no frills, all smoke. It's a few miles from the stadium but absolutely worth it the night before or morning of the game.

Guests can carry clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags no larger than 12"×6"×12", a one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag, or a small clutch bag approximately the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap — the clutch can be brought in alongside one of the approved clear bags. All non-clear bags are prohibited from entering the stadium gates, but complimentary clear gallon-sized freezer bags will be available at the ticket offices at Gate 1 and Gate 3. Outside food or beverages of any kind are not permitted, except for medical or infant needs.

Will call generally opens at least 2 hours before kickoff, though will call and box office details vary per game. Gates typically open around 90 minutes before kickoff. For University of Memphis football games, Gate 6 serves as the Student Entrance — away fans should target Gates 1 or 3 on the east and west sides. ATMs are located on the concourse near Gates 1, 3, and 4 , useful since everything inside is cashless.

The stadium has good wheelchair access throughout. ADA seating is distributed around the bowl, including accessible sections on the main concourse level with companion seating available adjacent to wheelchair spaces. The ADA parking lot is first come, first served for patrons with a valid ADA placard.

Elevators were added as part of the 2013 renovation package. Accessible entrances are available at multiple gates — contact the stadium directly ahead of your visit to confirm which gates have the shortest accessible routes to your specific section, as the ongoing renovation work may affect entry patterns through the 2025–2026 season. Guests with medical bag exceptions should ask for the Guest Relations Supervisor at any entry gate.

The stadium is a true bowl design, with an oval-shaped grandstand that rises to a peak in the middle of each sideline. The sightlines are outstanding — all seats have a great view of the action because the grandstand is very close to the field and the seats are steep, putting you closer to the action than at comparably-sized stadiums.

Away fans aren't corralled into a dedicated away section the way they might be at an SEC school, which means you have flexibility — and also means you'll be scattered among home fans. For the best experience, aim for sections in the 100-level on the north end zone or upper rows of the east sideline (sections 110–125), where you'll get good sightlines without being deep in the middle of the home fan base. Avoid the lower sideline sections directly in front of the Memphis student section on the west side for obvious reasons. The upper deck is genuinely steep, which sounds like a warning but is actually a feature — you're closer to the action vertically than most upper decks at bigger stadiums.

The Hog Wild stand offers barbecue nachos and barbecue sandwiches, and other stands serve corn dogs, turkey legs, Polish sausage, burgers, pizza, fried bologna sandwiches, and barbecue chicken sandwiches. Food items range from around $4–$9 for most main dishes up to $12 for turkey legs and deluxe nachos. Beer runs around $8–$10 at most stands. Outside food and drinks are not permitted inside the stadium.

Memphis Tigers fans are passionate but not hostile — this isn't a place where you'll get beer poured on you for wearing the wrong colors. The atmosphere picks up significantly for rivalry games and nationally televised matchups; for a mid-October AAC matchup, expect maybe 35,000–45,000 in a stadium currently undergoing significant renovation work. The renovation project, which officially began in May 2024, involves the demolition of the West Side Tower and upgrades to the East Side Suites , so expect some visual disruption and potentially limited access on the west side. The thing that will genuinely surprise you: the live tiger (TOM) is one of the actual mascots — during the Tiger Walk before the game, TOM is driven around the field in a cage parked right behind one of the end zones throughout the game. Whatever your feelings about the outcome on the scoreboard, that's an experience you won't have at many stadiums.

By rideshare: Surge pricing kicks in immediately after the final whistle. Wait 20–25 minutes inside or just outside the gates, walk two blocks north toward Central Avenue away from the main stadium exits, and request your ride from there. After the game, Glenn Rogers, Sr. Street converts to one-way northbound to assist stadium exit , so set your pickup point on Central to avoid getting your driver stuck in the one-way flow.

By car: Glenn Rogers goes one-way southbound before the game (all four lanes), restored to two-way traffic during the game, and then one-way northbound after the game. Lots to the north of the stadium along Central Avenue access tend to drain faster than the east lots off Southern Avenue. Plan on 30–45 minutes before you're on a moving road after a full crowd.

By MATA bus: The bus runs once an hour and weekend schedules are reduced — do not rely on this for post-game egress unless you've specifically looked up the schedule and know a departure is coming within 15 minutes. If you miss that bus, you're waiting an hour.

Best move: If you drove, stay in the stadium for 20–30 minutes after the final whistle, grab another beer, let the lots drain, then leave. The first 15 minutes after the game ends are pure gridlock; the next 15 are merely slow.

What MATA bus routes serve the stadium?

You can get to the stadium by bus — routes 1, 32, and 34 have stops nearby. The closest stop is Southern Ave at Hollywood Street (now Glenn Rogers, Sr. Street). Service is hourly; check schedules before you go.

Is there a clear bag policy? Yes. Bags must be clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC and cannot exceed 12"×6"×12"; a one-gallon clear freezer bag is also acceptable. Small clutch purses (approximately 5"×7") are also permitted alongside your clear bag.

Can I bring cash to the game?

All event day parking purchases are cashless — only credit/debit card is accepted. Inside the stadium, ATMs are located on the concourse near Gates 1, 3, and 4 if you need cash for any reason.

How much is parking? Official lots run roughly $20–$30 for general parking, with premium pre-purchased lots closer to $40. Buy in advance online — lots fill up for big games.

What time do gates open?

Gates typically open between 90 minutes to 2 hours before event time. Will call opens at least 2 hours before kickoff.

Is the stadium undergoing renovation? Yes. The project began in May 2024 and is targeted for completion in time for the 2026 football season. Expect some construction barriers and altered entry routes on the west side.

What are the best seats for away fans? Aim for sections in the north end zone (100-level) or the east sideline upper rows. You'll get the famous steep-bowl sightlines without sitting in the heart of the Memphis student section. The stadium is designed so that all of its seats have a relatively good view of most of the playing surface.

How far is the stadium from Memphis International Airport (MEM)?

The distance is about 8 miles, with a road distance of 6.7 miles. By car or rideshare, the drive takes approximately 11 minutes in normal traffic. Budget 20–25 minutes on game day.