MEMPHIS, Tenn. (localmemphis.com) – Signs of progress – and actualsigns – are now up in downtown Memphis, ahead of Saturday’s highly anticipatedESPN College GameDay show and the Memphis Tigers’ primetime football game,which you can watch on Local 24.
Wednesday, the city of Memphis announced certain street closuresand the Liberty Bowl closed in on its first sellout since 2015.
Beginning after the Elton John wraps up at FedExForum, at midnight, B.B. King will be closed for traffic between Peabody Place and MLK Boulevard until Saturday night, so ESPN crews can set up and break down their stages.
Memphis football tickets also continue to sell like hotcakes, at apace not seen in years – if ever.
“I’m not sure there’s every been a better time to be aTiger,” Memphis Associate Athletic Director Steve Macy said.
A historic Saturday for the University of Memphis and the BluffCity is taking shape, and with it, the Memphis football team is nearing itsfirst sellout in four years.
“It’s getting really close, it’s looking like we are exactlywhere we want to be,” Macy said.
Macy said Saturday’s Top 25 clash against SMU sold about 15,000tickets since a $9.01 per ticket flash sale launched Monday afternoon. That’salso when ESPN committed to airing College GameDay in downtown Memphis.
“We thought in our mind a 10,000 ticket sale would be asuccess, and so it’s been blown away,” Macy said.
U of M leaders said the College GameDay and nationally televisedPrimetime game not only revs up a citywide fan base, it draws positiveattention to the University of Memphis and plenty of potential future studentswho’ll tune in.
“Sports has shown for a long time that it can help increaseyour recruitment of students,” Macy said.
Football fans will be allowed to get in around the College GameDay set starting at 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning. Find out more on what will be open on Beale Street early Saturday HERE.