- Location: Memphis, Tennessee
- Address: 191 Beal Street Memphis, Tennessee 38103
- Capacity: 18,165 (basketball) 12,633 (hockey)
- Parking: Parking is available onsite or at the other garages and lots in the surrounding area.
- Occupants: Memphis Grizzlies, Memphis Tigers Basketball
- Rules: No cameras or tape recorders allowed. Still-cameras allowed at some events check with the venue per individual event.
The FedEx Forum was built in 2004 to house the Memphis Grizzlies, the city's first professional sports franchise. The Grizzlies moved from Vancouver, Canada to the warmer climate of Memphis three years prior. The arena was built primarily to hold basketball games and concerts, but it was also meant to be a showpiece for the city that could spark an economic revival similar to those sparked by other sports teams across the country. The FedEx Forum is situated in the heart of downtown Memphis in the Beale Street entertainment district. This area offers everything from shopping malls to restaurants to bars to live music venues. The arena is known for its stunning glass facade that dominates the outside of the building. Throughout the concourses and the lobby are murals and paintings decorated with images of Elvis Presley, B.B. King, Johnny Cash, and other musical icons who made their mark in Tennessee.
The Memphis Grizzlies moved from Vancouver in 2001 after starting as one of the NBA's original two expansion teams. The city of Memphis was enthralled to land the upstart Grizzlies, who had started to assemble an impressive core of talent before flagging attendance forced them to uproot. The Grizzlies made the playoffs a few times during their initial years at the FedEx Forum.
The Grizzlies finally had their moment in the sun during the 2011 playoffs. The team was up against the perennial powerhouse San Antonio Spurs, who were a No. 1 seed, while the Grizzlies were the eighth. The Grizzlies went on to shock the Spurs behind the efficient play of Marc Gasol and Shane Battier to notch their first-ever playoff series win. This also marked the fourth time in NBA history that an eight seed defeated a one, which is something that Grizzlies' fans can hang their hats on. They're sure to build upon this momentum in future seasons.
The FedEx Forum is surrounded by small-scale live music venues, but the biggest acts head to the arena's main stage. The venue has hosted Bon Jovi's Live 2011 Tour, Justin Bieber's My World Tour, The Rolling Stones A Bigger Bang Tour, and many more. Between the high-flying action on the court, the thrilling nightlife and world-class restaurants, the FedEx Forum should always be one of many stops during a trip to Memphis.