Big Changes In Store for Fairgrounds

Memphis, Tn - All the buildings surrounding the fairgrounds will soon be torn down, except the coliseum. Plans could include a tailgating area that will rival "The Grove" at Ole Miss. This new grassy area is tentatively being called "Tiger Drive."

This, along with thousands of new parking spaces made by tearing down old buildings could make for a very different game day experience by next football season.

The idea is to have a world class tailgating area ready in time the year's biggest tailgating party, the 2010 Southern Heritage Classic. And in time for all the home Tiger games, is the hope for U of M Athletic Director R.C. Johnson.

"Tiger Drive I think would compete against what other schools have," says Johnson. "Coming off Parkway is a natural fit right into the stadium. It would be a home run for everybody."

To have "Tiger Drive" done by September, the newly formed Fairgrounds committee will have to move fast. The council needs to approve a bid in April so construction on Tiger Drive can begin by June.

The first step was to approve the demolition of nearly every building surrounding the Liberty Bowl.

"Essentially all the buildings are coming down," says architect Tom Marshall, who's heading up the project.

Marshall says the demolition will make room for an additional 2,000 parking spaces. Something anyone who's been to the Classic knows, is needed.

But Fred Jones, President of the Classic is skeptical of the demolition. Jones says he has been left in the dark throughout the fairgrounds clean-up project.

"I have not seen anything that tells me that things are going to be the way that its described here," says Jones.

Jones voted no to move forward on the demolition, but was out voted by the other six people on the committee. Buildings could start coming down this week.

"Number one priority is to get the barns and the buildings out of there and were hopeful that's going to happen," says Johnson. "And if we can get Tiger Drive done we've come a long way."

The Fairgrounds committee will meet again next Monday. At that time members will hear how the city would find the money to pay for Tiger Drive which is estimated to cost between $6 and $9 million.