Quick Facts
- Date: November 3, 2004
- Location: FedExForum, 191 Beale Street, Memphis, Tennessee
- Matchup: Washington Wizards vs. Memphis Grizzlies
- Result: Wizards 103, Grizzlies 91
- Attendance: 18,119
- Head Coaches: Hubie Brown (Grizzlies); Eddie Jordan (Wizards)
Main Story
On November 3, 2004, the Bluff City marked a milestone in Memphis history when FedExForum hosted its first regular‑season NBA game. Situated steps from Beale Street, the arena opened in September 2004 and became the new home of the Memphis Grizzlies, replacing The Pyramid as the city’s primary basketball venue. The inaugural regular‑season contest brought the Washington Wizards to town and, after an early Grizzlies lead, the visitors seized control by outscoring Memphis 32–11 in the third quarter. Washington prevailed 103–91 before a crowd of 18,119.
The game spotlighted familiar names from the Grizzlies’ early Memphis years—Pau Gasol, Shane Battier, Bonzi Wells, Jason Williams—and a Wizards group coached by Eddie Jordan that would reach the 2005 playoffs. Hall of Famer Hubie Brown, then in his third season guiding the Grizzlies, was on the Memphis sideline. While the result did not go the Grizzlies’ way, the night confirmed FedExForum’s role as a downtown anchor for sports and entertainment in the 901.
Legacy
FedExForum’s debut regular‑season game signaled more than a schedule turn—it cemented an urban footprint linking Beale Street’s cultural corridor to big‑league basketball. In the years since, the venue has hosted multiple NBA Playoffs series, including the 2013 Western Conference Finals, as well as NCAA men’s basketball regionals and conference tournaments. Today, the arena remains a centerpiece of Memphis’ civic identity, drawing fans to the heart of downtown and reinforcing the connection between Beale Street’s music heritage and the Grizzlies’ grit‑and‑grind era—an enduring win for the Bluff City.
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