MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The wait is almost over!
Football season is here, and University of Memphis is gearing up for the season opener: the '901 game.'
Thousands of fans will pack Tiger lane and the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 31, for the first game against the North Alabama Lions.
Highland Hundred President, Phil Glass, is excited to see what this season holds.
"We need to be there supporting them," Glass said. "We need to be the 12th man on the field. Success in our athletics breeds success in a lot of other things. It attracts businesses. It attracts people to this community."
This season will look a little different for Tiger fans, since most of the west side of the stadium has been demolished for renovation, marking Phase 2 of the project.
"It's an exciting time for the university and the football program," Glass said. "It shows that we're growing. It's part of the preparations to hopefully get to a bigger conference in the future."
If you're going to the game, below are some changes that you should know about before you go.
- There will be no entry at Gates 4 and 5.
- Students will enter at Gate 6 this season.
- The team will still be on the west sideline, but on-field performances will now face the east sideline.
- A 20-feet walkway has been created behind the west side chairbacks for fans to access their seats.
- There will also be barricades and fencing to block off the construction zone.
- Parking and shuttle services will not be impacted.
Renovations are expected to be complete by the start of the 2026 football season.
Click here for more details about the renovations and changes.