MEMPHIS, Tenn. — As Memphis 901 FC is set to leave the Bluff City after transferring their rights to Santa Barbara, a statement released by the team Wednesday thanked fans for their support.
"We collectively share the disappointment of our supporters and the Memphis community as Memphis 901 FC's franchise rights transition to Santa Barbara, California," the statement read. "So many people have poured their hearts and souls into building this club, including soccer legend Tim Howard, and to everyone who built this organization, we will be forever grateful."
United Soccer League officials also put out a statement saying that the league approved the franchise rights transfer to Santa Barbara effective immediately. Memphis 901 FC will now by called Santa Barbara SKY FC.
"Due to challenges in securing a dedicated soccer venue in Memphis - including a setback with Liberty Park, where municipal funds were allocated to other initiatives - the club, after six years in the USL Championship, was ultimately unable to put a viable, long-term stadium solution in place," the USL statement reads.
"As a result, the franchise rights have been transferred to Santa Barbara’s SKY FC, which will begin play in the USL Championship in the 2026 season."
The statement from the team noted the organization was directed by the city to help lobby the Tennessee legislature in 2023 for $350 million cash grant to fund sports facilities, which would have included the Liberty Park soccer stadium. Those funds ultimately did not go to the soccer stadium and went to fund other renovations, including Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium and the FedEx Forum.
"While the State of Tennessee fulfilled this grant to Memphis, funding for the Liberty Park soccer stadium and AutoZone Park was unceremoniously left out. In the past year, we have explored additional options, but unfortunately time was not on our side," the statement read.
"We maintain that we much to be proud of, from sold-out crowds in 2019 and navigating the challenges of 2020, to building teams that made the playoffs the past four consecutive seasons and celebrating with the best supporters in out of USL soccer, including the Bluff City Mafia. It has been a tremendous honor to represent this incredible community. Thank you, Memphis!"
The league's statement said that the team will begin in Santa Barbara in the 2026 season.
“After evaluating multiple potential stadium options, unfortunately, the path to finding a permanent home for Memphis 901 FC did not materialize,” Justin Papadakis, USL Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Real Estate Officer, said in a statement. “A stadium is the cornerstone of a club’s long-term stability and growth. In the USL Championship, clubs like Louisville City FC and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC have shown how investing in soccer-specific venues creates lifelong fan connections and contributes meaningfully to the local economy.
"These stadiums are essential to our vision for professional soccer, creating spaces where clubs integrate deeply with their communities, fostering local pride, and positively impacting the region.”
This announcement also opened the floodgates for concerns about the future about the Memphis Redbirds. Shortly after the news broke
"We are saddened by the news that Memphis 901 FC will be leaving our beloved community. We have cherished the opportunity to host the team and 901 FC fans at AutoZone Park these past several years as the team sought to find a permanent home," said the Redbirds communications team.
The team went on to confirm that 901 FC's departure would not impact the Redbirds current tenure, and they would remain committed to Memphis and AutoZone Park. However, the team urges the city of Memphis to invest in the future of the facility.
The Memphis City Council recently approved $5,000,000 to help with repairs at AutoZone Park for it to come into compliance with the Major League Baseball standards before a deadline next year. But the Redbirds said there is still a long list of improvements that must be made including new seating, painting, bathroom renovations, and concrete repairs, and more to secure the future of the Redbirds in Memphis.
"We look forward to continuing this critical work with the City of Memphis to ensure our ability to proudly open our doors to fans for many years to come, and hope that losing soccer serves as a sobering reminder that having the highest level of professional Minor League baseball in downtown Memphis is a privilege," said the Redbirds communications team.
This also spurned action from city and county leaders to maintain economic development in the area after 901 FC's departure. The Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce sent the following statement to the ABC24 newsroom on Nov. 13th :
"Sports have long been a crucial driver of economic development, and the Greater Memphis Chamber remains dedicated to fostering the growth and vitality of our city. Over the past two legislative sessions, 901FC and other Memphis sports organizations joined us during our annual MEM2NASH visit to advocate for support for our sports venues with state legislators. Moving forward, we remain focused on promoting opportunities in sports and entertainment that enhance Memphis’s reputation as a vibrant, dynamic place to live, work and play. We are committed to investing in initiatives that fuel our city’s cultural and economic progress and seeking new partnerships that deepen our community’s passion for sports and competition."
Memphis Mayor Paul Young told ABC24 he was disappointed with the departure of 901FC, but would remain committed to supporting the rest of the major sports teams in the Memphis area, including the Redbirds, the Grizzlies, and the college sports teams at the University of Memphis, LeMoyne-Owens, and Christian Brothers University.
“Having events in downtown certainly supports our small businesses that thrive based on those events taking place coming to occupy downtown, so we’ll continue to identify opportunities to activate spaces in downtown to make up for the loss and to continue to support the teams that we do have," said Young.
Young remained optimistic the Bluff City could once again have a soccer team. At the moment there are no plans for a new soccer stadium, but Young told ABC24 the city would explore similar options to what was happening at AutoZone Park, where the soccer team and the Redbirds were sharing the same facility.