Memphis AD promises to make things right after opening game obstacles

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - What began as a historic celebration for Memphis Tigers football quickly turned into a night of gridlock, empty concession stands, and ticketing blunders for many at the newly renovated Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.

A sellout crowd packed the stadium on Saturday for the highly anticipated home opener, but the excitement was soon overshadowed by widespread operational failures.

For many Tiger faithful, navigating the stadium’s concourses proved difficult.

One local fan, who attended the game with their family of five and asked to remain anonymous, said they felt forced to pack up and leave in the second half simply because they couldn’t get anything to drink.

“The lines were so packed that you couldn’t really navigate the space under the seats,” the fan said, adding that many of the expected vendor booths were closed and menus were heavily limited. “It was pared down—no ice cream or snow cones, only Pronto Pups and Corky’s. A lot of vendor spots were closed for an opener where the goal was to sell it out.”

Other fans took to social media to report hours-long delays trying to park, massive bottlenecks at the gates, and a lack of available bottled water during the game.

Adding to the operational headaches, some ticket holders arrived at their designated sections only to find that the seats they had paid for did not actually exist.

University of Memphis Senior Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Ed Scott took to social media to address the errors head-on. Responding directly to fans on X, Dr. Scott promised swift action for those affected by the seating glitch.

“We will be contacting each ticket member that was impacted directly,” Dr. Scott posted. “We will make it right!”

In his official apology statement released to Tiger Nation, Scott acknowledged that the home opener fell far short of the university’s standards.

“We heard your concerns about parking, stadium entry, concession lines and other aspects of the game day experience, and we take that feedback seriously,” Scott wrote. “A sellout crowd in a newly renovated stadium presents unique operational challenges, but we will not use that as an excuse. Our expectation is simple: we have to do better.”

Scott added that the athletic department is already working alongside the City of Memphis, Oak View Group, and Sodexo Live! to roll out immediate improvements before the Tigers play at home again in two weeks.

The stadium’s rocky debut has sparked debate among the fan base. While some have criticized those speaking out, others emphasize that public pressure is necessary to ensure the stadium’s infrastructure serves everyday fans, not just those in the boxes.

But for out-of-town fans like Jason Rhea, who traveled over 700 miles with his family to attend, the issues are part of a massive construction project’s learning curve. Rhea, who works in the construction and design industry, says he still has complete faith in the athletic department’s leadership.

“Things don’t always go according to plan. Even when you have the best laid plans out up front... things happen,” Rhea said. “Every single thing I’ve ever seen brought up to [Dr. Scott], he’s addressed it. This is definitely refreshing.”

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