Quick Facts
- Date: April 14, 2000 (most accounts; see sources)
- Location: AutoZone Park, 200 Union Avenue, Downtown Memphis — two blocks from Beale Street
- Event: Memphis Redbirds’ first regular‑season game at AutoZone Park (Pacific Coast League, Triple‑A)
- Opponent: Reported as the Iowa Cubs in the inaugural home game; the box score is variously reported in public summaries (see sources).
- Context: The ballpark opened April 1, 2000, with an exhibition vs. the St. Louis Cardinals, following two Redbirds seasons at Tim McCarver Stadium (1998–1999).
- Stadium facts: Opened 2000; construction cost approximately $80.5 million; designed by Looney Ricks Kiss with HOK Sport.
Main Story
In April 2000, AutoZone Park hosted the Memphis Redbirds’ first regular‑season home game, a landmark for Memphis history and for the Redbirds’ fan base across the 901. The contest came shortly after the ballpark’s April 1, 2000 exhibition debut, when Memphis hosted its MLB affiliate, the St. Louis Cardinals, before a full house downtown. Contemporary team histories and local recountings identify April 14, 2000 as the first official home date at AutoZone Park, with the Iowa Cubs as the opponent. While individual box‑score details vary across public summaries, the key point is clear: Triple‑A regular‑season baseball arrived downtown in earnest that week.
AutoZone Park’s arrival moved professional baseball from the Fairgrounds (Tim McCarver Stadium) into the heart of Downtown. Built to major‑league standards, the ballpark’s brick-and‑steel design and urban siting were deliberate choices to anchor redevelopment near Beale Street and the Main Street corridor. The Redbirds rewarded that enthusiasm in 2000 with a championship season in the Pacific Coast League.
Legacy
AutoZone Park’s first regular‑season game helped reintroduce everyday professional baseball to Downtown Memphis and contributed to a broader civic momentum. Local coverage has long noted the ballpark’s role in energizing Downtown activity and sports culture, strengthening the Redbirds–Cardinals pipeline, and providing a signature gathering place in the Bluff City. A quarter‑century on, the stadium remains a centerpiece for games, concerts, and community events—an enduring part of Memphis history.
Sources
- Memphis Magazine, “Fine Feathered Friends” (context on April 1, 2000 exhibition; stadium/civic impact)
- MiLB/Redbirds, “Battle of the Birds Returns” (official series history confirming April 1, 2000 exhibition opener)
- Memphis Redbirds (team history summary noting April 14, 2000 as first regular‑season home game)
- StatsCrew, 2000 Memphis Redbirds season page (league, season finish, attendance context)
- Baseball Pilgrimages, AutoZone Park profile (opening facts, construction cost, features)
- MLB.com Ballpark Guide: Explore AutoZone Park (location, capacity, basic facts)
- Daily Memphian, retrospective on AutoZone Park’s downtown impact (exhibition opening and civic context)
Note on verification: Exact box‑score details of the April 14, 2000 regular‑season opener are summarized inconsistently in public recaps; where precise figures are uncertain or disputed, they are identified as such above and dated sources are cited for context.
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