MEMPHIS REDBIRDS
AutoZone Park
The most musically saturated ballpark in American professional sports — AutoZone Park in Memphis sits one block from Beale Street, the birthplace of the blues, in a city that claims Elvis Presley, Al Green, Three 6 Mafia, and Justin Timberlake among its musical exports. The Memphis Redbirds play in the shadow of the Peabody Hotel and within walking distance of Sun Studio. The BBQ is dry-rubbed. The music is real.
PHOTO: Lindsey Turner · CC BY 2.0
Architecture & History
AutoZone Park was designed by Looney Ricks Kiss (LRK) Architects and opened April 1, 2000 in downtown Memphis, one block from Beale Street.
The park is the only professional baseball stadium adjacent to a recognized National Historic Landmark street — Beale Street.
Memphis is an anomaly in American food culture: a city with two distinct BBQ traditions — dry-rub and wet-rub — operating simultaneously.
Build specs
- ARCHITECT
- Looney Ricks Kiss (LRK) Architects
- CAPACITY
- 10,000
- OPENED
- April 1, 2000
- CULTURAL CONTEXT
- Beale Street National Historic Landmark adjacent
Statues & Exterior
EXTERIOR FEATURES
AutoZone Park Entrance
The grand brick entrance on Union Avenue connects the ballpark to Memphis's historic Beale Street entertainment district, just blocks away.
Bluff City Views
Upper deck seats offer views toward the Mississippi River bluffs that give Memphis its "Bluff City" nickname.
Names & History
2000–present
AutoZone Park
Named for AutoZone Inc., headquartered in Memphis.
Also known as
The Food
Memphis Dry-Rub Ribs
Paprika-heavy dry-rub ribs slow-smoked without sauce. Interstate Bar-B-Que operates at AutoZone Park.
Memphis Dry-Rub Ribs
Interstate BBQ stand — main concourse
Memphis BBQ is dry-rub — pork ribs seasoned with a paprika-heavy dry spice rub and slow-smoked without sauce. Interstate Bar-B-Que operates at AutoZone Park.
Pulled Pork Sandwich — Central BBQ Style
Central BBQ stand
Central BBQ's pulled pork — slow-smoked, moist, with the Memphis tangy-sweet red sauce on the side.
Gus's Fried Chicken
Gus's stand — main concourse
Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken, the Mason Tennessee institution since the 1950s. Spicy, cayenne-forward.
Rendezvous Charcoal-Grilled Ribs
Rendezvous stand
The Rendezvous, the legendary subterranean Memphis BBQ restaurant. Charcoal-grilled dry-rub ribs.
Redbirds Dog
Every stand
Standard hot dog with the Memphis hot sauce condiment tradition.
The Beer
High Cotton Brewing Midsouth Pale Ale
High Cotton Brewing Co. · Memphis, TN
High Cotton is the most locally specific craft at AutoZone Park.
Memphis Made Brewing Iron Fist Pale Ale
Memphis Made Brewing · Memphis, TN
Memphis Made, the Broad Avenue Memphis craft operation.
Pabst Blue Ribbon
Pabst Brewing Company
PBR has a strong Memphis bar culture presence.
Bud Light
Anheuser-Busch
Volume beer throughout.
Sun & Weather Guide
Mississippi Delta heat — full summer conditions
Memphis summer day games are among the most demanding weather conditions in the IL South. Evening games are strongly preferred.
Beale Street adjacent — the Memphis night
AutoZone Park evening games followed by a walk to Beale Street for live blues is the most musically integrated sports experience in minor league baseball.
One block from the park post-game
Walk out of AutoZone Park after the final out and turn toward Beale Street. You will hear live blues music within 30 seconds.
Memphis spring — best weather season
April and May games in Memphis are the most comfortable. Delta spring before the summer heat is ideal.
Exposed — Delta summer heat
Right field bleacher seating is fully exposed. Memphis summer heat index exceeds 100°F regularly.
Peabody Hotel and downtown Memphis visible
The Peabody Hotel's rooftop is visible from the upper deck. Downtown Memphis and the Mississippi River corridor are in the background.
Insider Tips
The One Thing
Order the Interstate Bar-B-Que dry-rub rib plate. You are one block from Beale Street in the city where this tradition was perfected.
The Post-Game Walk
Walk to Beale Street after the final out. You will hear live blues music before you reach the corner.
Parking Reality
Downtown Memphis parking garages on Union Avenue and Second Street. Walkable from most downtown hotels.
Best Value Seat
Left field concourse area for standing room. First base lower boxes for seated options.
Pilgrim Stops Near Memphis
Weird, wonderful, and worth the detour.
Sun Studio Memphis
The 18-by-30-foot room where rock and roll was invented. Elvis's first microphone is still there.
Stax Museum Memphis
The music that changed America came from this Memphis neighborhood. The museum is on the exact footprint.
Lorraine Motel National Civil Rights Museum
Room 306 is preserved. The balcony where King was shot is visible from inside.
Plan your pilgrimage
Every Park a Pilgrimage.
Plan a baseball road trip through Memphis and beyond.
Start Planning →