University of Memphis breaks ground on multimillion-dollar soccer and track stadium
By Omer Yusuf – Memphis Business Journal
September 21, 2026
The University of Memphis Athletic Department celebrated a milestone for one of its prominent projects.
The school held a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, Sept. 21, for the Liza Wellford Fletcher Stadium at the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex. The project was first announced a little more than two years ago.
The stadium is set to be home to the school’s men’s and women’s soccer teams and track and field squads. Memphis’ current Billy J. Murphy Soccer and Track & Field Complex is located on the school’s Park Avenue Campus.
Memphis Athletics confirmed earlier this year that it secured the $8.3 million in fundraising needed for the project. The total project cost is estimated at $12.4 million, Scott said in a previous interview with MBJ.
Construction is now underway, with the bleachers already being removed at the facility, said U of M athletic director Ed Scott. Grinder, Taber, & Grinder, Inc. is the contractor for the project.
The project's first phase includes a new soccer and track stadium grandstand, press box, and women’s soccer locker room.
Construction has begun on the $12.4 million Liza Wellford Fletcher Stadium. The University of Memphis held a groundbreaking ceremony for the milestone on Monday, Sept. 21.
“Once we get the final design drawings back, I'll sit down with [U of M women’s soccer coach Brooks Monaghan],” Scott said. “We're about 99% of the way there, because we've had Brooks as part of this process [at] every step.”
Monaghan said in a media availability that this project is set to significantly bolster the women’s soccer program moving forward.
“It's going be one of the nicest in the country,” he said. “We will be going from one of the worst to one of the best. I can't wait for that day to just walk my team through those doors and do the reveal. It'll be very special.”
Future phases of the project include the completion of new team areas for men's soccer and track and field, with the improvements benefiting more than 100 U of M student-athletes across the sports.
