MEMPHIS, Tenn. —
All eyes were on the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium for the 2023 AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
Every year, the game brings in tens of thousands of people, but this year was special since the University of Memphis Tigers won it at their own stadium.
Memphis was technically the visiting team in the bowl game, but fans said the atmosphere was just like any other home game.
The Tigers faced the Iowa State Cyclones again, after losing to them by one point in the 2017 Liberty Bowl.
Tailgaters, like Clint Norwood started packing Tiger Lane at 8:00 a.m.
"It's fantastic because for years they tried to set this up for the tigers to be in the liberty bowl, but we just never could get there. So, this is beautiful," said Norwood.
And it wasn’t just Memphis fans, Iowa State fans, like Merri Lowry, drove nearly ten hours for the game. Lowry said she came to Memphis for the 2017 Liberty Bowl and had such a great time, that she and her friends came back.
"We left on Wednesday morning and buzzed right through St. Louis, made it to Memphis and then we got downtown and started celebrating," said Lowry.
The Liberty Bowl typically draws in 40,000 to 50,000 fans, and 2023 was no different.
The game also shines a positive light on the city.
"People coming together to have a good time. So yes, I think this is a good thing for the city with everything going on. try to bring some unity," said Memphis fan Wayman Thomas.
Game attendance was 48,789.