Memphis Redbirds president Craig Unger on the need to see progress on AutoZone Park upgradesMarch 11, 2025

By Omer Yusuf – Reporter, Memphis Business Journal

February 24, 2025

AutoZone Park — home of the Memphis Redbirds — was once considered the gold standard of Minor League Baseball stadiums. The $80 million ballpark regularly drew strong crowds in the 2000s for Memphis’ Triple-A team.

In recent years, however, both team performance and attendance have declined. The departure of Memphis 901 FC last fall, after plans for a soccer-specific stadium fell through, also left the venue without its second tenant. The Redbirds and 901 FC had shared the stadium for six seasons.

Craig Unger, president of the Redbirds and a stakeholder in both teams, said the loss of 901 FC was significant.

“We started 901 FC — it was our baby,” Unger said. “Losing it hurts from a business and personal perspective. But now we turn the page and look at new opportunities to use the stadium.”

Stadium challenges and needed upgrades

Unger said AutoZone Park now ranks in the “bottom 25%” of minor league ballparks, a sharp contrast from its earlier reputation.

The team is conducting a study to determine the cost of needed upgrades, which include new seating, fresh paint, updated restrooms and concessions, repairs to a malfunctioning video board, fixing a partially leaking roof, and addressing other deferred maintenance.

The Redbirds are under contract to remain the St. Louis Cardinals’ Triple-A affiliate through 2030, but Unger emphasized that improvements are critical to keeping the team in Memphis long term.

“It needs upgrades to meet fan expectations,” he said. “It’s what’s happening at other major venues in Memphis. This is critical to Downtown and the local economy.”

From catalyst to crossroads

When AutoZone Park opened in 2000, it helped spark Downtown revitalization and contributed to Memphis’ emergence as a sports city. That momentum continued with the arrival of the Memphis Grizzlies in 2001.

In its early years, the Redbirds regularly averaged more than 10,000 fans per game and won multiple league titles, including a Triple-A Championship in 2018. Many future MLB stars passed through Memphis during that time.

More recently, attendance has declined. The team finished last season with a .500 record and an average attendance of about 2,700 fans per game, shifting the organization’s focus toward delivering a broader entertainment experience.

Funding hurdles

Efforts to fund stadium upgrades have been ongoing. A previous proposal to invest in multiple Memphis sports venues — including AutoZone Park and a new soccer stadium — did not ultimately include funding for the ballpark.

The State of Tennessee instead directed $350 million toward projects tied to the University of Memphis and the Memphis Grizzlies.

The City of Memphis has allocated $5 million for compliance-related work at AutoZone Park, but Unger said significantly more funding will be needed for full renovations.

City officials and the Redbirds are in ongoing discussions, with regular meetings to explore funding options. Mayor Paul Young said more details on a potential plan could emerge in the coming months, though no total cost or timeline has been finalized.

Looking ahead

In the near term, AutoZone Park is set to host a St. Louis Cardinals exhibition game ahead of the 2025 season — the first such event at the stadium since 2019.

The team is also working to expand non-baseball programming, including concerts and other events, to better utilize the venue.

At the same time, a longer-term decision looms. The Cardinals will need to determine their Triple-A affiliation beyond 2030, and that decision could come earlier if facility concerns remain unresolved.

“Time is of the essence,” Unger said. “We need to show real progress on a renovation plan soon.”

For now, team leaders are focused on reinforcing the stadium’s role as both an entertainment venue and a key part of Downtown Memphis’ identity.