Tag: proposal

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News

County Commission Committee Urges No More “Letters of Intent” for Bass Pro/Pyramid Deal

A County Commission committee has
approved a resolution asking Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton not to sign another letter of intent with Bass Pro for The Pyramid if nothing further with the company develops before the January 31st deadline.

The commission is looking at a proposal for an $250 million redevelopment plan with an indoor amusement park and a hotel proposed by the Ericson Group.

The city and county have signed three letters of intent already with
Bass Pro. The county has something of a gentleman’s agreement to let the city be the lead agency in negotiating for a new use for The Pyramid.

Commissioner Mike Ritz expressed the commmittee’s concerns: “The city may want to extend the letter of intent some more … How do we keep that from happening?”

The resolution will come before the full County Commission on Monday.

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News

Memphis City Council to Hear Beale Street Development/Performa Conflict Tuesday

Saying they were going to nullify their agreement with Performa, members of the Beale Street Development Corporation asked the City Council this morning to audit the management company.

The city signed an agreement with the Beale Street Development Corporation to redevelop Beale in 1982. Lacking management experience, the group subleased the responsibility to the company now known as Performa Entertainment Real Estate, owned by John Elkington.

Performa was supposed to take 15 percent of the rents from Beale Street establishments, then give the remainder of the funds to the development corporation, which was then to turn them over to the city.

“Since 1983, not a single dime has come back to the Beale Street Development Corporation or the city of Memphis,” said BSDC member Randell Catron, accompanied at the meeting by blogger Thaddeus Matthews.

In 2002, a chancery court decision ordered Performa to enter any current or future funds into an escrow account pending further orders of the court. However, Performa never paid any funds into escrow and the city did not pursue the matter.

“Those of us who have been here a long time counted on the administration to handle this and it has not been handled,” said Councilman Jack Sammons. “I got an e-mail last night about B.B. King playing and it’s $200 a ticket. A lot of money is being generated on that street.”

Echoing that sentiment, Charlie Ryan, an owner of Club 152 and Blues City Cafe, said his establishments have paid $1.1 million to Performa since 2003.

“As a tourist attraction, we need to make the area safe and clean, and John Elkington is in charge of doing that. We’ve paid $280,000 in the last four-and-a-half years [for common area maintenance] and we’re not getting what we paid for,” he said.

No one from Performa attended this morning’s meeting.

The council was expected to get an update on the ongoing litigation during an attorney-client meeting this afternoon. The council was also prepared to take up the matter in full session later today.

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Letters To The Editor Opinion

Letters to the Editor

On-campus Stadium Strikes a Nerve

Thanks to Jackson Baker and the Flyer for presenting such a detailed article regarding the feasibility of an on-campus stadium for the University of Memphis — and Harold Byrd’s determination on this issue (“Damn the Torpedoes!,” March 1st issue).  

As a graduate of the U of M and a loyal fan, I have always wanted us to have on-campus facilities for both basketball and football. A few years ago, I volunteered to help the Tiger Scholarship fund recruit new members. The idea of an on-campus stadium would always come up, and [athletic director] R.C. Johnson would quickly dismiss the idea.

I cannot understand why university officials would not want thousands of passionate alumni and loyal fans visiting the campus for several weekends each year. What better way for a school to stay connected with its alumni, supporters, and potential donors? Every other major university in the country realized this decades ago, and it is time for the U of M to join them.

Steve Staggs

Eads

Regarding Harold Byrd’s drive to have the proposed new Memphis football stadium located on the University of Memphis campus: I believe his ideas are right on track! Louisville, Kentucky, and Oxford, Mississippi, just to name two, have both provided a template for a winning strategy, which Memphis should strongly consider. Richard TravisMemphis

Although your story prominently featured Harold Byrd, it really was about the status of the University of Memphis in this community. I have long thought that the U of M was underappreciated and underrecognized.

The article highlights the fact that the campus does not attract enough traffic. If people know what they have, perhaps they will appreciate it for what it is — a wonderful resource for the community.

Bruce S. Kramer

Memphis

Congratulations on a great article. Sometimes our politicians forget that an on-campus stadium is for the University of Memphis. It is not an afterthought in a plan to fix the Fairgrounds or to re-energize downtown (The Pyramid). It should be a true home field for our university.

Thanks for publicizing a private citizen’s view of things. Many times our politicians compromise so many things to get a project started that it never really serves its real purpose.

Mike Garibaldi

Memphis

I am a graduate student at the U of M. I am strongly in favor of Byrd’s proposal. This would inject some much-needed life into the city and to the university’s football program. A new stadium would make recruiting quality students and athletes considerably easier for coaches and faculty. I commend the Flyer for putting the limelight on the stadium issue.

William Newby

Memphis

I’m a recent graduate of the University of Memphis and an avid fan of Tiger sports. After attending four years of football games as a student at the Liberty Bowl, I agree with Byrd that there would be countless benefits to building an on-campus football stadium.

An on-campus stadium would create more of a collegiate football experience for students and fans, foster new traditions, and build a stronger community for the university. The U of M is the only state university in Tennessee without an on-campus stadium. It would raise awareness for Tiger athletics for all the commuters on campus (17,876 people, or 93 percent of all students this semester).

The problem of funding can be solved by increased ticket and concession sales, private donations, corporate sponsorships, and advertising. Harold Byrd has the right idea: An on-campus stadium for the Tigers makes perfect sense!

Erin Webb

Memphis

Those who truly love the University of Memphis have dreamed of an on-campus stadium for years. It would open untapped sources of money that we have been needing for years by bringing alumni back to the campus. Byrd’s “idea” should be given serious consideration!

Kay Kelly

Memphis

I am a 1972 graduate of the University of Memphis, and I agree whole-heartedly with Harold Byrd. I believe a football stadium on the campus would be a great asset to the university and to the city of Memphis.

Jimmy Moore

Memphis