September 18, 1965 — Memphis Memorial Stadium (now Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium) Opens

Quick Facts

• Date: September 18, 1965 (first and dedication game)
• Location: Mid-South Fairgrounds, 335 S. Hollywood St., Memphis, Tennessee
• Original name: Memphis Memorial Stadium; today: Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium
• First game: Ole Miss 34, Memphis State 14
• Construction cost: Approximately $3.7 million, built by the City of Memphis
• Liberty Bowl in Memphis: First played at the stadium on December 18, 1965

Main Story

In mid-September 1965, Memphis opened a new civic landmark at the Mid-South Fairgrounds: Memphis Memorial Stadium, now known as Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. The venue’s first event—also billed as the stadium’s dedication game—kicked off on September 18, 1965, when Memphis State hosted the University of Mississippi. Ole Miss prevailed 34–14, but the night marked a turning point for local college football and for the Fairgrounds as a regional gathering place in Memphis history.

Built by the City of Memphis for roughly $3.7 million, the stadium provided Memphis State (now the University of Memphis) with a modern gridiron home and set the stage for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl to make a permanent home in the Bluff City. The Liberty Bowl, founded in 1959, moved to Memphis for the 1965 season and was played at the new stadium on December 18, 1965. The new facility’s scale and accessibility helped the game draw larger crowds than in its earlier northern venues, cementing an annual postseason tradition in the 901.

Legacy

Since opening day, the stadium has anchored fall Saturdays in Midtown—hosting the Tigers, the Liberty Bowl, and community traditions like the Southern Heritage Classic—while adapting through renovations and a new name that reflects present-day partnerships. From Beale Street pride to Fairgrounds tailgates on Tiger Lane, the venue continues to serve as a civic commons for sports and culture, reinforcing Memphis’s identity as a resilient, sports-loving river city.

Sources

• University of Memphis Athletics and Special Collections (game program and stadium facts)
• AutoZone Liberty Bowl and Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (official histories)

https://gotigersgo.com/news/1999/9/17/Liberty_Bowl_Memorial_Stadium.aspx, https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/speccoll-ua-ad-series1/85/, https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/speccoll-ua-ad-series1/index.4.html, https://www.libertybowl.org/history, https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/1965-09-18-memphis.html, https://www.simmonsbankstadium.com/about/