Sports in Memphis, Tennessee facts for kids

The FedEx Forum, where the Memphis Grizzlies and University of Memphis Tigers basketball teams play.

Sports in Memphis, Tennessee are a big part of the city! Memphis has many public sports places thanks to Memphis Park Services. These include 17 swimming pools, 8 public golf courses, and 48 sports fields. These fields host many youth and adult teams. There are also 130 basketball courts and 7 tennis centers. Memphis even has a special soccer complex.

Memphis is also home to professional sports teams. You can find teams for basketball, baseball, and other sports here. For fun, many people in Memphis enjoy playing golf, basketball, baseball, and tennis.

Professional Sports Teams in Memphis

Memphis has both major and minor league sports teams. These teams play in different leagues across the country.

Major League Teams

Here's a look at the biggest professional team in Memphis:

Minor League Teams

Memphis also has several exciting minor league teams:

Basketball in Memphis

The Memphis Grizzlies are Memphis's only team in the "big four" major sports leagues. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team moved to the FedExForum in downtown Memphis in 2004. Before that, they played at the Pyramid Arena.

The Grizzlies also have a team called the Memphis Hustle. This team plays in the NBA G League. Their home games are at the Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi.

College Basketball

The University of Memphis has popular college basketball teams. The men's and women's teams play in NCAA Division I. This is the highest level of college sports. The men's team shares the FedExForum with the Grizzlies. The women's team plays on campus at Elma Roane Fieldhouse.

Baseball in Memphis

The entrance to AutoZone Park, home of the Memphis Redbirds.

Memphis has a long history with professional baseball. The city has had many teams since 1877. One of the earliest teams was the Memphis Reds. Over the years, teams like the Memphis Egyptians, Turtles, and Chicks played here.

Baseball was also important in the Negro leagues. The Memphis Red Sox played in various Negro leagues from 1923 to 1950.

Today, the city is home to the Memphis Redbirds. They are a Triple-A team, which means they are a top team for the St. Louis Cardinals. The Redbirds play their home games at AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis.

Football in Memphis

Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium from above.

The University of Memphis Tigers football team plays their home games at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

Memphis has also hosted several professional football teams for short times. These teams played in different leagues. The Memphis Southmen played in the World Football League. The Memphis Showboats played in the United States Football League. The Memphis Mad Dogs were part of the Canadian Football League. Even the Tennessee Titans (then called the Tennessee Oilers) played one season in Memphis before moving to Nashville. The Memphis Maniax played in the XFL. All these teams used the Liberty Bowl as their home field.

Memphis also had indoor football teams. The Memphis Pharaohs played at Pyramid Arena. The Memphis Xplorers played at the DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven, Mississippi.

Golf in Memphis

Golf is a very popular sport in Memphis. The city has eight public golf courses. The first public course, Galloway Golf Course, opened in 1923. There are now over 30 golf courses in the Memphis area. Memphis also hosts a big golf event each year called the FedEx St. Jude Classic. This is a regular tournament on the PGA TOUR.

Ice Hockey in Memphis

The Mississippi RiverKings were a professional ice hockey team. They played from 1992 to 2018. The RiverKings played their games at the Landers Center in nearby Southaven, Mississippi.

Motorsports in Memphis

Memphis is home to Memphis International Raceway. This track is just north of the city. It has a paved oval track, a drag strip, and a road course. The raceway hosts events from February to November. These include races sanctioned by NASCAR and IHRA.

Another racetrack nearby is Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Arkansas. It's a dirt track that has been open since 1950. This makes it one of the oldest continuously running tracks in the country.

Rugby in Memphis

Memphis has two Rugby Union teams. The Memphis Blues is a men's team. Memphis Women's Rugby is a women's team. Both teams play at Tobey Field in Midtown, Memphis.

Roller Derby in Memphis

Memphis has an active roller derby scene with Memphis Roller Derby. This team is part of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association. The league has four home teams that play against each other. They also have a travel team that competes in other cities.

Tennis in Memphis

Memphis Park Services takes care of seven public tennis centers. Memphis also hosts big tennis events. These include the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships (for men) and the Cellular South Cup (for women).

Wrestling in Memphis

Memphis has a rich history in pro wrestling. Many famous wrestlers started their careers here. The most well-known is Jerry "The King" Lawler. Other wrestling legends who started in Memphis include Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, and Ric Flair.

College Sports Teams in Memphis

The University of Memphis has many college sports teams. Here are some of them:

Former Professional Teams in Memphis

Memphis has been home to several professional sports teams that are no longer active. These teams played in various leagues over the years. Some examples include the Memphis Rogues (soccer), Memphis Americans (indoor soccer), and the Memphis Express (football). Other teams were the Memphis Pharaohs (arena football), Memphis Maniax (XFL), and the Memphis Sounds (basketball).