Memphis City Council members ignored the first pitch to finance “critical” repairs at AutoZone Park during the Tuesday, June 9 committee meetings.
City leaders are seeking $5 million in bond funding to replace a defective fire suppression system and other “life safety repairs” at the minor league ballpark. Another vote has been scheduled for June 23. A final vote on the proposed FY2027 budget is penciled in for the same day.
Autozone Park is the home of the Memphis Redbirds, an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals organization. The AAA stadium first opened its gates in 2000. In 2017, the franchise signed a 17-year lease with the city to manage the ballpark.
Along with up-to-date fire safety, the proposal includes modern HVAC systems that will require relocation from the current systems. Additional safety netting to protect newly-installed clubhouse-level seating also would be installed. Both the fire safety and HVAC systems are original to the facility.
The request matches a $5 million investment made in 2024. Those upgrades included new lighting, improved batting cages and safety netting. The new bonds would be paired with the previously approved issuance.
Together, they are intended to bring the ballpark up to minor league baseball compliance-level standards. Batting and pitching tunnels, along with a dark colored backdrop in center field are a part of the criteria.
According to City of Memphis COO Antonio Adams, the deferred maintenance is a requirement of the agreement.
“This is changing the rules in the middle of the game,” responded Councilwoman Jerri Green.
The Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate argued the city isn’t financially obligated to cover the costs of the upgrades, under the terms of the lease. She also doubted the “critical” label attached to some of the improvements.
Much like current renovations to the FedEx Arena, the investment is also an attempt to secure a long-term relationship between the city and a professional sports franchise.
The recent fixes are part of a three-phase plan that began in 2025.
The final phase will culminate in a so-called “AutoZone Park of the future.” It will feature a mixed-used development and improvements to the surrounding neighborhood. The ultimate goal is to develop the location beyond a seasonal economic engine.
Nevertheless, some on the council question whether a minor league team has enough horse power to sustain the vision.
Although an average of over 2,900 visitors per game in 2025 was among the best in AAA baseball, the head count pales in comparison to an average Grizzlies game. The lack of traffic wasn’t lost on the council’s budget committee chairman.
“I’m sorry, people are playing pickleball. They are not going to baseball games. They are not going to minor league baseball games. At some point we have to say 30 years later, ‘Is baseball our best bet? Do we have the best tenant possible in there?’” asked Chase Carlisle.
The council is currently putting its imprint on Mayor Paul Young’s proposed $897 million FY2027 budget. Members mulled over a flurry of amendments during the morning session. The deadline for approval is June 30.
