New Tiger Tailgating Area 'Tiger Lane' Unveiled

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The city unveiled the new tailgating area at the Liberty Bowl just in time for the first home game. Tiger Lane has new lights on the stadium and a new lawn. The tiger football team will run up the lawn for their new grand entrance before each football game.

The switch was flipped at Tiger Lane giving tiger fans their first look at the new tailgating area at the Liberty Bowl.

"This is memphis Tennessee. At its best. Give yourselves a round of applause," said Mayor AC Wharton.

Mayor AC Wharton kicked off the opening with the help of the Memphis cheerleaders and the band. Dozens of Tiger fans showed up and some even tailgating for the opening of the tailgate lawn.

"For a long time this has been nothing but a parking lot. It's not exactly pretty. Now we get a nice pretty tailgating space, its something to look forward to," said one tailgater.

The tailgating space on Tiger Lane will hold almost 600 cars. Each has a private 10 by 10 foot green adjacent to the lawn. The lawn is 1400 feet long and 160 feet wide.

Memphis students say their friends at UT and Ole Miss have been talking about Tiger Lane.

"They'll be jealous of us," said Chase Pressontc.

The city boasted the project was finished on time and within budget. The first to enjoy Tiger Lane will be tailgaters at the Southern Heritage Classic, Saturday. Memphis is home the following weekend.

"There are a lot of schools in the country that would like to have what we have so been pretty fortunate," said Athletic Director, RC Johnson.

Johnson said Tiger Lane could even help with recruiting and while he said winning is what counts, he thinks it could help draw bigger crowds for Tiger games.

"There are no barns anymore, there are no cattle pens and the smell is gone so I think they'll like it a lot better," said Johnson.

The city finished this project in just 90 days. But a few details will be added after the season. A huge fountain will go at the end of the lawn and trees will be planted.