FedExForum is a downtown Memphis, Tennessee arena that opened on September 6, 2004, replacing the Memphis Pyramid as the city’s premier basketball venue. Built on Beale Street in the heart of Memphis’s entertainment district, the arena has served as the home of the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies and the University of Memphis Tigers men’s basketball team since its debut.
Owned by the City of Memphis and operated by Memphis Basketball, LLC, the $250 million facility spans about 805,850 square feet across a 14-acre downtown site. Beyond the basics of who plays there, most visitors searching for FedExForum actually want the practical details: how to get tickets, where to park, what the seating chart looks like, and what you can and can’t bring through the doors. This guide covers all of it.
Quick Answer
FedExForum is a 16,800-to-19,000-seat arena at 191 Beale Street in downtown Memphis, home to the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies and the University of Memphis Tigers. It has an attached 1,500-space parking garage, a clear-bag entry policy, and a box office open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Getting Tickets to FedExForum
The Grizzlies organization recommends buying tickets only through the team, the FedExForum Box Office, or Ticketmaster, since it’s the only channel the arena guarantees for authenticity. Most tickets today are issued as mobile passes rather than paper: add them to your digital wallet before you leave home, keep your phone charged and its screen brightness turned up for scanning at the gate, and note that screenshots of tickets are not accepted.
The on-site box office sits near the Main Entry Plaza on Third Street and is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed on weekends, with adjusted hours on event days. For the exact schedule, current pricing, and single-game or group sales, check the official FedExForum box office page.
Parking at FedExForum
FedExForum has its own attached five-level parking garage with about 1,500 spaces, with entrances on Dr. M.L. King Jr. Avenue between B.B. King Boulevard and Fourth Street. Rates and availability vary by event, and the Grizzlies offer seasonal parking passes for basketball season ticket holders; for non-Grizzlies concerts and events, spaces are generally sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
A second option, the adjacent Gossett Motors Garage, can be reserved in advance online or through the Grizzlies app, though it’s typically only available for non-Grizzlies events. Downtown surface lots and street parking around Beale Street and the South Main district fill up fast on game nights, so arriving early is worth it. For current rates and the official parking map, see FedExForum’s Know Before You Go page.
Seating Chart and Capacity
FedExForum’s lower bowl, the Plaza level, runs sections 101 through 118 in a ring around the court, with rows lettered A through V and additional back rows labeled AA through LL in some sections (there’s no row I or O). The best sightlines for basketball are generally sections 104-106 and 113-115, which sit along the sidelines near the benches and across from them.
Above the lower bowl, the Club level wraps the arena in sections C1 through C14 with rows A through K, plus suite sections numbered 201 to 232 that include courtside suites, Pinnacle Club suites, theatre boxes, and club boxes. Standard basketball capacity runs around 16,800, while non-basketball configurations push to roughly 18,119, and concerts with floor seating added can reach close to 19,000. For an interactive, event-specific seating chart, use the official FedExForum website or your ticket provider’s venue map.
Bag Policy and Arena Rules
FedExForum enforces a clear-bag policy at every entrance. Allowed bags are clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC no larger than 6x8x2 inches, or a one-quart clear plastic freezer/storage bag; small clutches and wallets up to 5×3.5 inches are also fine without needing to be clear. Bags can’t have an all-over print that hides the contents, and straps can’t be metal or chain. Each guest is limited to one bag, and everything goes through X-ray screening at the door.
Guests who need a medically necessary bag that doesn’t meet the standard size should enter through the Grand Lobby at marked doors for inspection. The arena is also fully cashless inside, so bring a card or mobile payment method (Apple Pay and Google Pay are both accepted) for concessions and merchandise.
History and Design
FedExForum replaced the Memphis Pyramid, which opened in 1991 and struggled to meet the needs of an NBA franchise after the Grizzlies relocated to Memphis in 2001. Construction of the new arena was completed despite a disruptive 2003 derecho windstorm that hit the region mid-build, and the doors opened on September 6, 2004.
FedEx secured the naming rights in a 20-year deal reported at roughly $90 million, one of the larger arena-naming agreements of its era. On the court, FedExForum became known early on for a technical first: a see-through shot clock that let fans and broadcasters view the clock face from any angle, a design the NBA later adopted league-wide. The interior decor throughout the concourses and public spaces pays tribute to Memphis’s blues and soul heritage rather than treating the arena as a stand-alone sports box.
More Than Basketball
Beyond hosting the Grizzlies and Memphis Tigers basketball, FedExForum functions as the city’s primary large-scale concert and event venue, with configurations that push capacity toward 19,000 for touring artists. Its downtown location and connection to the Pyramid’s former role make it central to Memphis’s modern sports and entertainment identity.
Getting There and Nearby Beale Street
FedExForum sits a block from the famous Beale Street entertainment district, so fans can easily pair a Grizzlies game or Tigers matchup with Memphis’s live blues clubs and restaurants just steps from the arena doors. The building uses a single-entry design from the Grand Lobby, meant to funnel fans in right from downtown rather than through scattered side doors.
Downtown hotels, the Beale Street Landing riverfront, and the Main Street trolley line are all within easy walking distance, making FedExForum one of the more walkable major-arena experiences in the country if you’re staying downtown.
FedExForum arena guide FAQs
What teams play at FedExForum?
FedExForum is the home arena of the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies and the University of Memphis Tigers men’s basketball team, both playing there since the venue opened in 2004.
When did FedExForum open?
FedExForum opened on September 6, 2004, replacing the Memphis Pyramid as the city’s primary basketball venue.
How many people does FedExForum hold?
Capacity is about 16,800 for basketball and can expand to roughly 18,119-19,000 for concerts and other events, depending on the floor configuration.
Where is FedExForum located?
FedExForum is at 191 Beale Street in downtown Memphis, Tennessee, one block from the Beale Street entertainment district.
Where do you park at FedExForum?
The arena has its own attached garage with about 1,500 spaces, accessed from Dr. M.L. King Jr. Avenue. The nearby Gossett Motors Garage can also be reserved online for non-Grizzlies events, and downtown surface lots are available within walking distance.
What is FedExForum’s bag policy?
Only clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags no larger than 6x8x2 inches, or a one-quart clear plastic freezer bag, are allowed, along with small non-clear wallets or clutches up to 5×3.5 inches. Bags with metal or chain straps or all-over prints that hide the contents are not permitted, and each guest may bring one bag through X-ray screening.
How do I buy tickets to FedExForum events?
The Grizzlies and FedExForum recommend buying only through the team, the FedExForum Box Office, or Ticketmaster. The box office is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with different hours on event days.
What are the FedExForum box office hours?
The box office is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and closed on weekends, though hours can shift on event days.
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