AutoZone Park’s Future: What the Redbirds need at the ol’ ballpark
The Redbirds moved to AutoZone Park in 2000, and now — more than 2½ decades later — the Union Avenue stadium is in disrepair. (Wes Hale/Special to the Daily Memphian)
But years of deferred upkeep have taken a toll on what AutoZone Park, which was called “the crown jewel of minor-league baseball” when it opened. But years of deferred maintenance have taken a toll.
Last month the Memphis City Council approved spending $5 million for what the team deemed to be emergency repairs.
Mayor Paul Young’s administration likely will be seeking council approval for a significantly more expensive renovation, a project that could cost the city its minor-league franchise should funding not be found.
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Memphis Redbirds AutoZone Park minor-league baseball Craig Unger Subscriber OnlyThank you for reading The Daily Memphian. Your support is critical.
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Tim Buckley
Tim is a veteran sportswriter who graduated from CBHS in Memphis and the University of Missouri. He previously covered LSU sports in Baton Rouge, and the University of Louisiana football and basketball for The Daily Advertiser/USA TODAY Network in Lafayette, the NBA’s Utah Jazz for the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning for the St. Petersburg Times in Florida, and West Texas State basketball for the Amarillo Globe News in Texas.
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