There are 74 article(s) tagged Liberty Park:

• April 2026

  • How Memphis plans to spend $100 million in state money on Beale Street

    John Zeanah said an interesting phrase as he stood outside FedExForum during a City Council bus tour — he called the area the “arena district.”

    By Samuel Hardiman April 22, 2026

  • ‘Cupid Shuffle’ singer, Cedric Burnside to perform at Memphis in May barbecue contest

    As more than 200 pitmasters from 27 states and seven different countries go toe to toe during the barbecue competition, the “Line Dancing King” and a Grammy Award-winning local blues artist are among the entertainment.

    By Joi Malone April 03, 2026

• March 2026

  • Council members question Liberty Park project after Daily Memphian reporting

    The Daily Memphian dove into the $2.2 million invested in the still-stalled private development. Now, two Memphis City Council members want answers from Memphis Mayor Paul Young’s administration.

    By Samuel Hardiman March 03, 2026

• February 2026

  • Memphis paid $2.2M for Liberty Park consultants — and it’s still an empty lot

    The city needs sales-tax growth at Liberty Park to pay bonds at the Memphis Sports and Events Center. To generate that tax growth, it needs hotel and apartments to become something more than hypothetical. 

    By Samuel Hardiman February 03, 2026

• December 2025

  • The AM/DM podcast: The future of Liberty Park

    Liberty Park was supposed to be an economic catalyst for Memphis. It still could be, but so far, the tax growth it needs hasn’t come to fruition. 

    By Mary Cashiola December 18, 2025

• August 2025

  • Liberty Park Southern Avenue entrance could get new look

    The Memphis City Council will dive into a revamped entrance and security upgrades for Liberty Park along with a $14.6 million “action plan” from Mayor Paul Young. 

    By Bill Dries August 19, 2025

• May 2025

  • Liberty Park hotel, apartments could break ground this fall, city says

    Work on a hotel and apartments at the former Mid-South Fairgrounds property may begin in the fourth quarter of 2025. The projected opening date is in early 2027. 

    By Samuel Hardiman May 16, 2025

  • Memphis in May barbecue contest starts smoking

    The Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest got underway Wednesday afternoon, and for many teams, it begins with the wood. 

    By Jody Callahan May 15, 2025

• October 2024

  • Liberty Park tourism zone collected zero dollars last year

    The district’s growth is intended to pay off the Memphis Sports and Event Center’s $100 million debt.

    By Samuel Hardiman October 31, 2024

• August 2024

  • Fairgrounds development wants to be Chick-fil-A of entertainment. Can it?

    The planned $112.5 million private development High 5 could transform Liberty Park, formerly known as the Mid-South Fairgrounds, and bail the City of Memphis out of an underwater wager.

    By Samuel Hardiman August 23, 2024

  • Liberty Park development clears Memphis City Council

    Liberty Park, formerly known as the Mid-South Fairgrounds, could see a broad transformation in the coming years with $112.5 million in private development now cleared for takeoff.

    By Samuel Hardiman August 09, 2024

  • Memphis City Council talks over mayor’s executive appointments

    The City Council also could take final action on ground leases for the planned development at Liberty Park. The leases for an entertainment venue, hotel and apartments would bring much-needed sales tax to the Liberty Park Tourism Development Zone.

    By Bill Dries August 05, 2024

• July 2024

  • Liberty Park $112M private development takes step forward

    Further development at Liberty Park took a key step forward Tuesday: A City Council committee approved the up-to $112.5 million project that could change Midtown.

    By Samuel Hardiman July 24, 2024

  • City Council considers suburban expansion for MLGW board

    Memphis City Council will consider a November ballot question that will impact the city’s suburbs and separately, the future of Liberty Park.

    By Bill Dries July 08, 2024

• June 2024

  • ‘The city has to stop doing bad deals:’ Council sounds off as Liberty Park is underwater

    “This is a 100-year deal ... The city has to stop doing bad deals,” said Memphis City Councilman Chase Carlisle about development at Liberty Park.

    By Samuel Hardiman June 04, 2024

• May 2024

  • City council moves toward budget wrap up, reviews terms for Liberty Park

    The council takes the second of three votes Tuesday, May 21, on raising the city’s monthly solid-waste fee and decides six wages disputes between the city administration and labor unions. 

    By Bill Dries May 20, 2024

  • At MIM, BBQ Alley is ‘for the people,’ pitmaster says

    BBQ Alley is perfect for those World Champsionship Barbecue Cooking Contest attendees who aren’t part of, or friends with anyone on, a competition team. 

    Related story:

    SmokeSlam opens with dessert, bacon and wings competitions

    By Joshua Carlucci May 17, 2024

  • Memphis in May BBQ fest kicks off with sauce wrestling and fiery competition

    The Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is officially underway, with 129 teams from 22 states and four foreign countries vying for the crown.

    Related stories: 

    A first look at SmokeSlam on the river

    Battle of the Barbecue: Where to eat Memphis barbecue

    By Kambui Bomani May 16, 2024

  • City Council could take first vote on solid-waste-fee hike

    The administration of Mayor Paul Young wants the council to take the first of three votes Tuesday, May 7, on a $6.98 increase in the solid waste fee. The administration also will outline changes it would make to garbage collection with the increase.

    By Bill Dries May 06, 2024

  • City to ink High 5 Entertainment to 30-year lease at Liberty Park

    High 5 would build an entertainment facility that would include a full-service restaurant and bar with bowling, video games and laser tag.

    By Samuel Hardiman May 04, 2024

• April 2024

  • MIM Barbecue Contest to feature Marcy Playground, Ingram Hill

    The Memphis in May event at Liberty Park will also have celebrity pitmasters doing cooking demonstrations and 129 teams from 22 states and four foreign countries competing for barbecue honors.

    By Bill Dries April 24, 2024

• December 2023

  • Paul Young projects hope at pre-inauguration parade and block party

    The Saturday parade and block party on Tiger Lane is one of four events in three days that includes Paul Young taking the oath of office as mayor of Memphis Monday at the Cannon Center.

    By Bill Dries December 30, 2023

• November 2023

  • What Overton Square, Midtown Kroger and Chick-fil-A mean — financially — for Memphis

    The city’s Liberty Park bonds are underwater. Documents show just how busy the Midtown Kroger and nearby Chick-fil-A are and how much they mean to the Liberty Park Tourism Development Zone. 

    By Samuel Hardiman November 06, 2023

  • Memphis bet $100M on Liberty Park; now the city could be in the red

    Memphis is betting big on Liberty Park, but public records show a big shortfall in covering that bet. 

    By Samuel Hardiman November 01, 2023

• October 2023

  • MIM survey: Most barbecue teams want to move to Liberty Park

    More than three-fourths of those who participated in an email survey said they want to move Memphis in May’s annual barbecue contest to Liberty Park.

    By Bill Dries October 02, 2023