When the occasion you’re attending is found on South Hollywood Road, no question you’re expecting an exhilarating program. Since 1965, the Freedom Bowl has actually offered the stage for the very best university football Memphis needs to offer and met its Hollywood address’ invoicing. While a lot of its equivalent arenas have actually long since shut their doors forever, this manufacturing continued to amuse fans for 56 years and counting.
As a self-proclaimed “Stadium Connoisseur” I structure my traveling routine to check out specific stadiums as high as I do to see certain games. The elegance of college football is the selection of arenas it makes available to its fans. Past the common measurements of the area, there is no blueprint wherefore an arena needs to appear like. With 130 various FBS stadiums, a “Stadium Lover” such as myself has an amazing quantity of alternatives to choose from.
The Liberty Bowl’s combination of distinct design, abundant background, and follower pleasant atmosphere makes it one of my outright favorites. It was initially built at a cost of $3.7 million as well as called Memphis Memorial Arena. In 1987, a $19.5 million renovation “balanced” the stadium’s arrangement, comparable to old Tampa bay Stadium (aka ‘The Huge Sombrero’). There is no FBS stadium that looks anything like it as well as in my publication, special = outstanding.
Both the University of Memphis and the Freedom Championship game have been playing there since the arena’s inception. Actually, component of the inspiration to develop the stadium was to bring the annual Freedom Championship game, which originated in Philly (thus the name). This approach was, of course, successful as well as caused the name change from Memphis Memorial Arena to the Freedom Bowl.
Several other teams and also events have actually been held at the Liberty Bowl over the years too. The Southern Heritage Classic between HBCU schools Jackson State as well as Tennessee State has been held annually since 1990. Addtionally, the checklist of expert teams/leagues which have at one point called the Liberty Bowl residence is considerable. Among them were the Memphis Southmen (Globe Football League), Memphis Showboats (USFL), Memphis Mad Dogs (CFL) and Memphis Maniax (XFL). The Tennessee Titans (then the Oilers) likewise played their inaugural season there after leaving Houston in 1996, completing a surprisingly varied list of occupants to see activity in Memphis.
It’s not simply the arena itself that makes the stadium so great. It’s the vibe inside that makes it always a fun area to visit. Followers are singing, experienced as well as pleasant. The College of Memphis band, the Mighty Audio of the South, gives terrific power and is one of the very best bands in all of FBS.
For every one of the reasons I’ve laid out, obtaining an opportunity to see a video game at the Liberty Dish is constantly a treat for me. Thursday night’s video game vs Navy had actually been circled on my calendar since the offseason and also the experience on Thursday did not disappoint.
I was fortunate to walk around on the area prior to the video game as well as you might just feel the exhilaration. Once the game started, I partly viewed the activity but mostly toured every edge of the stadium. The sundown behind journalism box enabled some terrific photo opportunities. Plus, the Tigers use the area gave the home followers specifically what they concerned see.
Memphis dominated the very first half and took a powerful 28-10 introduce the locker area at halftime. The scoring slowed down in the 2nd fifty percent, with Navy taking the air out of the ball with their running game. But despite the fact that Navy held the round every one of almost 40 minutes, Memphis still scored 35 points in the game. Last rating: Memphis 35, Navy 17.
It was a wonderful evening right around at the Liberty Dish. If you have yet to make the journey to the stadium for a video game, I highly suggest you alter that immediately. Capitalize on the opportunity to see a piece of college football background, while absorbing quality football at the exact same time. Though it is over 50 years old, it’s maturing like great wine. With more renovation plans for the stadium in the jobs, the Freedom Dish’s future appearances brighter than ever before.