When did FedExForum open in Memphis?
FedExForum officially opened in September 2004. Construction was nearly disrupted on the 22nd of July, 2003, when a derecho wind storm almost toppled the building's cranes near Beale Street.
Questions about FedExForum
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How much did it cost to build FedExForum?
FedExForum was built at a cost of $250 million, financed through public bonds issued by the Memphis Public Building Authority. FedEx separately paid $92 million for the naming rights.
Who designed FedExForum and how large is it?
Ellerbe Becket designed FedExForum. The building covers 14 acres and totals 805,850 square feet, with a round shape, a dome, and a playing floor set below street level. It seats 18,119 for basketball and includes 1,000 premiere courtside seats, 27 courtside suites, 32 club suites, 4 party suites, and 80 club boxes.
What teams play at FedExForum?
The Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA and the University of Memphis men's basketball program are the primary tenants of FedExForum. Both previously played at the Memphis Pyramid, which was built in 1991 but was considered obsolete for NBA purposes despite being only ten years old.
What was the transparent shot clock innovation introduced at FedExForum?
FedExForum was the first arena to install see-through shot clock units, introduced in 2004. The idea came from a New Jersey Nets fan who emailed NBA Commissioner David Stern about obstructed sight lines from seats behind the basket; Daktronics engineered the solution. By the 2011-12 NBA season, every NBA arena had adopted the technology.
What notable events beyond basketball has FedExForum hosted?
FedExForum hosted the IBF Light heavyweight title fight between Roy Jones Jr. and Glen Johnson on the 25th of September, 2004, the first NHL game at the arena on the 21st of September, 2006, and UFC 107 on the 12th of December, 2009. It has also held WWE pay-per-view events including Unforgiven in 2007 and Fastlane in 2015, multiple NCAA tournament regionals, and the inaugural American Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament in March 2014.