MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Leaders with the Memphis Restaurant Association are urging city officials to support a proposed $5 million investment in AutoZone Park, arguing the future of the Memphis Redbirds has a direct impact on downtown businesses and jobs.
The group’s public push comes as Memphis City Council debates to approve or not approve funding for renovations and improvements at the 25-year-old stadium.
“To lose the Redbirds would be a tremendous loss for us all,” said Jeffrey Zepatos, president of the Memphis Restaurant Association. “We need these community and these downtown generators. We want families downtown.”
The association recently sent a letter to council members, describing AutoZone Park as a “cornerstone of our downtown hospitality ecosystem.”
Council Vice Chairman Chase Carlisle has questioned whether taxpayer dollars should be used for the project.
“People are playing pickleball. They’re not going to baseball games. They are sure as heck not going to minor league games,” Carlisle said during a recent council discussion.
Restaurant leaders disagreed, saying the debate extends beyond baseball.
“It’s really not just the Redbirds,” said Ronna Pridgen, executive director of the Memphis Restaurant Association. “I think that it’s every hospitality worker and small business within that corridor.”
According to the Redbirds organization, the $5 million funding request would help pay for safety improvements and other upgrades at the stadium.
Team officials have also warned that additional investments will likely be needed as the facility continues to age.
“AutoZone Park is infrastructure to our city,” Zepatos said. “It’s more of a long-term conversation about how we want to take care of downtown.”
Some city leaders said they need more information before committing public funds.
In a statement, Carlisle said, “The public deserves transparency, accountability, and a clear vision for the future of this asset.”
The debate has also drawn attention from outside Memphis. Southaven Mayor Darren Musselwhite recently suggested his city would welcome the Redbirds if the team were to leave Memphis, saying, “We’d love to have you.”
Zepatos said losing the team would have consequences beyond the ballpark.
“It’s not just restaurants. It’s small businesses. It’s large businesses,” he said. “It’s a piece of what brings families to want to live in Memphis.”
The Memphis City Council is expected to revisit the funding request in two weeks.
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