| MEMPHIS | |
| CITY OVERVIEW
Stay in Memphis |
Memphis is only a recent addition to the sporting city circuit. As most people know, however, it has largely achieved its fame on the back of one individual – Elvis Presley. Today, the thing that gives Memphis its verve today is its homage to the ‘musical blues’. Beale Street in downtown Memphis is world renowned as the home of ‘the Blues’ and a lot of work has gone into making the two block strip between 2nd and 4th Streets a prime tourist destination. Places to look out for in Beale Street are the Walk of Fame; the famous Sun Studios (where Elvis, BB King, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and many others recorded); the Beale St Police Museum, which exhibits the extradition order for James Earl Ray (Martin Luther King Jr’s convicted assassin); Schwab's Dry Goods Store, which houses three floors of voodoo powders, handcuffs, clerical collars, saucepans and the largest collection of hats in town; and the Gibson Guitar Plant, which contains the Smithsonian Institution's Rock 'n' Soul Museum. Also near Beale Street is the National Civil Rights Museum, which is housed in the Lorraine Hotel, where Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated in 1968. The famous Peabody Hotel is also located near downtown Memphis. This is the luxury hotel with its beautiful Grand Lobby entrance and interior fountain that is home to the unbelievable ‘Duck March’. Every day at 11 am, the Hotel’s ducks are led by the ‘Duckmaster’ down the elevator to the Italian Travertine marble fountain in the Grand Lobby. Red carpet is unrolled and the ducks march through crowds of spectators to the tunes of John Philip Sousa. The fanfare is repeated at 5 p.m. when the ducks retire to their rooftop palace. An absolute classic! A trip to Memphis would not be complete without a trip to Elvis’ Graceland. It is located some distance away from the downtown area in suburban Memphis and is, from the outside, a normal looking large American mansion. However, once inside you will be walked to and from rooms that commemorate Elvis’ 20 years living there. You’ll actually be exposed to one bizarre experience after another – like the green shag pile ceiling and the interior waterfall. The decorations have to be seen to be believed. Even if you are not an Elvis fan, this place is definitely worth visiting, even if it is just to be part of a tour that gives you an insight into the mindset of your average Elvis fan. You can get there from downtown on the MATA bus (Route 43). |
| GETTING THERE
Fly to Memphis Within USA
|
Memphis International Airport is located some 32 km from downtown Memphis. There is a bus service that links the airport to downtown called the Downtown Airport Shuttle (DASH). The newly renovated Central Station on South Main Street is the home of Amtrak. It is also somewhat of a tourist destination in its own right, housing many nice shops and restaurants. The Greyhound bus also leaves from here. The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) is a bus-based system that serves most of the Memphis metro area. However, the Memphis Metro Planning Organization has big long term plans to introduce an extensive light and heavy rail system into Memphis. |
| NBA
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES |
Memphis is a new player in professional sports, having received the relocated Grizzlies from Vancouver for the beginning of the 2002 season. The Vancouver Grizzlies began life in 1995 with the Toronto Raptors, the first Canadian excursion into the NBA. The Grizzlies never really succeeded in Vancouver, and the move to Memphis is intended to revive the fortunes of not only the team but also a City attempting an economic recovery. |
| THE PYRAMID ARENA |
The Pyramid Arena, the Grizzlies temporary home until 2003 or 2004, is located at 1 Auction Av, Memphis. It is located in the northern section of the downtown area and is situated in proximity to the Downtown Trolley System. This temporary arena is actually a downtown landmark in its own right. The reason why there is a pyramid in Memphis is because Memphis is also the old capital of Egypt. The 32 story Pyramid is the third largest pyramid in the world and soars even taller than the Statue of Liberty or the Taj Mahal. The Pyramid Arena also become famous in 2002 for hosting the Mike Tyson/Lennox Lewis World Title Boxing bout after most states in the US refused to issue Tyson with a license to fight. |
| TENNIS
End
Feb - ATP and WTA Kroger St Jude Classic, The Racquet Club of Memphis,
5111 Sanderlin Avenue,
Ticket information to come |
The
Racquet Club of Memphis is located some 12km east of downtown. From
downtown (North End Terminal), catch the MATA Bus Route 50 K,W or Y
that goes along Poplar Avenue. Get off at Poplar and Mendenhall and
walk north on Mendenhall for about 200m and turn east onto Sanderlin,
where the Racquet Club entry is. |
| GOLF
Late June - US PGA FedEx St. Jude Classic, Tournament Players Club at Southwind, Memphis Ticket
information to come |
The
TPC at Southwind is located some 25km south-east of downtown Memphis, just
off Route 240. From downtown, catch the MATA Bus Route 50 to Saddle Creek
Shopping Center. From here, only a peak hour bus service exists that goes
past the course (Route 82) so a cab from here might be the best option. |
| MOTOR
RACING
Mid October - Nascar Busch
Series , Sams Town 250, Memphis Motorsports Park, 5500
Taylor-Forge Rd Millington, TN |
The Motorsports Park is some 15km north of downtown Memphis. Although a short distance, no regular transit service connects the downtown area with the Motorsports Park. MATA Route 82 does go near the park but is only a commuter service during the weekday. A taxi service from downtown appears to be the best alternative. |
| NCAA
SPORTS - DIVISION 1
UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS |
The UM campus is located at 3641 Central Avenue, which is some 8 km east of downtown Memphis. The UM Tigers facilities are located just south of the main campus. The Tigers have teams in most sports, including football and men’s and women’s basketball. The football team plays out of Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, which is home to the Liberty Bowl Championship game as well. The Liberty Bowl has a capacity of some 63,000 and is located at 2599 Avery Avenue, which is located some 3km of the campus and only about 5km from downtown. The men’s basketball team plays out of the Pyramid in downtown Memphis, the home of the Grizzlies. The women’s basketball team plays out of Elma Roane Fieldhouse, which has a capacity of 3,000 and is located on campus. To get to the campus from downtown, catch MATA Bus Route 2, which goes right by the campus. For the Liberty Bowl catch Route 2 as well. |
