Fan Guide to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl

Welcome Texas Tech and Arkansas fans!

So, you’re traveling to Memphis for the 66th AutoZone Liberty Bowl. This year's showdown pits Texas Tech against Arkansas. Kick-off is set for Wednesday, December 27, 2024 at 6 p.m., with Felix Cavaliere and Sixwire booked to perform at halftime.

You know you could watch it from your couch—ESPN will televise the game nationally—but you want to be in the sea of fans that descend on Memphis annually for this showdown. (Because you know that you’ve got more than those four quarters to look forward to—you’ve got tailgating, a halftime extravaganza and Memphis to tackle.)

Make plans to cheer on your team at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl Parade down Beale Street on Tuesday, December 26, 2024, at 3 p.m. followed by the Bash on Beale Pep Rally at 4:30 p.m.

Here’s what to know before you come:

Liberty Bowl Stadium. Photo by Chuck Lajeunesse.

Parking, transportation, and lodging

To take a shuttle or know where to park on-and-off-site on game day, click here. There is plenty of parking around the stadium, but using ride-sharing apps, like Uber or Lyft, or calling a cab (901-577-7777) are great ways to avoid traffic and cut down on drive time. While most lodging options are 10-20 minutes from the Stadium on a regular day, expect traffic delays – there are a ton of you going to the Liberty Bowl!

If you want more detailed info on tickets, tailgating, parking, and game day tips, click here.

As for lodging, there are lots of hotels in downtown Memphis and East Memphis. Downtown hotels will be within walking distance (or a short trolley bus ride) from things to do and about five miles to the Stadium. If you stay in East Memphis, you’ll need transportation to get to nearby things to do and will be about seven to ten miles from the Stadium.

Tailgating IS PART OF THE EXPERIENCE

No Liberty Bowl experience is complete without tailgating along Tiger Lane, where the smoke from slow-cooking barbecue intensifies the excitement of fans. Basics on parking and tailgating are provided here; it’s up to you to bring something tasty.

To make tailgate small talk, you could express your excitement about the coming halftime spectacular, a bona fide pageant with marching bands, dancers, baton twirlers, cheerleaders, and a performance by rock band Starship featuring Mickey Thomas. Or, share some bowl trivia: this year marks the 66th annual Liberty Bowl, making it one of the oldest college bowl games. The competition got its start in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which explains its name (and why its trophy resembles the liberty bell). The bowl has been played in Memphis since 1965, showcasing greats from Archie Manning to Bo Jackson.

Your Memphis Bucket List Starts Here

Light up the night on Beale Street.

You've heard of Beale Street, now experience it. One of America's most iconic streets, Beale's historic buildings hold music legends and the neon glow of unforgettable nights out. Stroll the pedestrian-only thoroughfare and pop in any of the dozens of bars and clubs that line the street, spilling with the sounds of live electric and acoustic blues, rock 'n' roll, soul and club music. Listen in at cozy venues like Blues Hall or grab drinks and a piano set at Silky O’Sullivan’s. And don't miss the Beale Street Flippers, who perform acrobatics down the cobblestones in the evenings.

Eat all the things, but start with barbecue.

You know you want to try Memphis barbecue. It's one of the things that makes Memphis famous. Ask any local and you’ll get an earful of recommendations, from the gloriously messy bologna sandwich at Payne’s to The Bar-B-Q Shop’s “muddy” ribs (that’s Memphis-speak for dry-rubbed and sauced). Leave room for other cravings, because you’re going to find irresistible soul food and other signature must-eats in Memphis, too.

Discover more of the world's best barbecue on the Memphis Barbecue Trail.

Pay homage to Elvis.

Tour Sun Studio, the impossibly small space from which Elvis emerged larger-than-life. (Hold his microphone to imagine his presence.) Visit Graceland for an intimate look at the man, especially in the Music Room, where he shared songs with friends and family. The onsite Presley Motors Automobile Museum and Elvis' private jets amp up the fun. If your burnin' love for The King still isn't satisfied, book an Elvis-themed tour of Memphis guided by a local musician.

For more Elvis-themed attractions, check out our Ultimate Elvis Presley Bucket List.

Trace Memphis' civil rights story.

Find the Smithsonian-affiliated National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, where a wreath marks Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s room and place of assassination. King was in the city advocating for Memphis sanitation workers, and the museum explores this chapter within America’s greater civil rights story through interactive exhibits. On-site, you can trace the Atlantic slave trade with your feet, listen to speeches from 1963’s March on Washington and board a burned-out bus in remembrance of Freedom Riders, among other activities.

Learn more about Memphis' civil rights story through landmarks, public art, tours and events. You can also follow the U.S. Civil Rights Trail in Memphis and a three-day Black travel itinerary when you're in town.

Get down with Memphis Soul.

Memphis isn't only the home of rock 'n' roll; the city is equally known for soul and blues. Hear how the three genres of music influenced each other and the soundtrack of Memphis, a soundtrack heard around the world, at the Smithsonian-curated Rock 'n' Soul Museum on Beale Street. Then head to Soulsville, U.S.A., the epicenter of the soul music explosion that rocked Memphis and, ultimately, the world, in the 1960s. Soulsville is home to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, where instruments, archival footage and flashy exhibits (Isaac Hayes’ Cadillac!) conjure Stax's revolutionary sound.

Want a sonic deep-dive? All of Memphis' music attractions and tours are here.

Listen to more live music. Because: Memphis

Memphis’ modern musicians riff on the past, creating new, original music (give this playlist a listen). Catch these and other local acts at historic Lafayette’s Music Room, intimate/quirky Bar DKDC, restaurant/bars with buzzy outdoor spaces including the Overton Park Shell, where Elvis played his first paid gig and you can catch months' worth of free concerts every year.

You'll find live music all over town. Check out our events calendar to see who's playing.

Experience Bass Pro Shops...in a Pyramid.

Outside, it's a gleaming, silvery pyramid on the banks of the Mississippi River. Inside, it's a cypress swamp bobbing with boats for sale, thousands of gallons of watery habitats where fish and alligators swim, an underwater-themed bowling alley, the rustic-luxe Big Cypress Lodge hotel and the world's only Wahlburgers Wild...all in the world's largest Bass Pro Shops retail store. It's topped by a glass-floored observation deck that overlooks downtown Memphis, the river and a great place to enjoy a drink with a view.

Check out our guide to experiencing Memphis' Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid.

Visit a top-ranked zoo.

See why Memphis Zoo was rated a "Top 5 Best Zoo" by USA TODAY 10 Best. With naturalistic habitats housing 3,500 animals from grizzly and polar bears to hippos and crocodiles, the zoo is known for giving guests a globe-trotting vibe with internationally inspired architecture, and its arboretum accreditation ensures the vibe is equally relaxing.

Bonus: Memphis Zoo is nestled inside Overton Park, an urban forest with paved and unpaved trails that connect to the Greenline, a pedestrian path that runs for miles through the heart of Memphis. Follow the Greenline to Shelby Farms Park, where paddleboarding, horseback riding, ziplining and one heck of a playground await.

Catch a duck march.

Daily at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., gather in the lobby of The Peabody Memphis to observe a decades-long tradition: Resident ducks march from their rooftop "penthouse" to the hotel's centerpiece fountain. They are guided by a staff Duckmaster down a red carpet. Line up like the paparazzi and snap a pic. Arrive early (the ducks have fans) and enjoy a beverage from The Peabody's storied bar. Smile knowing you've experienced a Memphis rite of passage that's caught the attention of Oprah and the casts of The Tonight Show and Sesame Street, among other celebs.

Check out our guide to the Duck March and other unique experiences at The Peabody Memphis.

See what's so mighty about the Mississippi River.

From Downtown Memphis, take a narrated sightseeing cruise on the Mississippi River with Memphis Riverboats. Join a paddling excursion with Mississippi River Expeditions. Walk/bike/run Big River Crossing, the Mississippi’s longest pedestrian bridge. Downtown rooftops create unforgettable views too, especially the glass-floored observation deck of Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid.

For the ultimate river hang, relax in the boldly transformed Tom Lee Park, featuring swings, pick-up basketball, coffee/snacks and colorful playgrounds amid a native landscape.

Hang with the locals.

For an ultra-authentic experience, venture into Memphis neighborhoods that mix residential space with restaurants, shops and live music venues. Shop for artful accessories and modernist pottery on Broad Avenue. Pick up Memphis-made tomes and vinyl at Cooper-Young’s indie book and record stores. Sample restaurants in Overton Square and Crosstown Concourse. Eat, shop and photograph your way through the colorful South Main Historic Arts District, where you can hop on one of Memphis' iconic trolleys.

Want to eat like a local in Memphis, too?

two people jump in the air in front of sun studio

A family explores an interactive exhibit at Memphis' National Civil Rights Museum

Isaac Hayes' Cadillac at Stax / Raphael Tenschert

Overton Park Shell during concert lit up with crowd

Exterior of Bass Pro Pyramid and Big Cypress Lodge

A young girl feeds a giraffe at Memphis Zoo

Duckmaster Kenon Walker with The Peabody Ducks during The Peabody Memphis hotel's daily duck march | The Peabody

Trolley on South Main Street, Memphis | Alex Shansky

Places To Eat And Drink

Downtown:

– Earnestine & Hazel’s offers up beer, soul burgers, and late-night music in the divey-est of dive bar atmospheres
– Majestic Grill is crowd pleasing cuisine in an upscale, art deco atmosphere
– Gus’ Fried Chicken’s spicy, crispy chicken is world-famous for a reason
– For bar hopping/late-night eating: SOB, Bardog Tavern, Local, Flying Saucer, plus Beale Street
– For breakfast: Arcade Restaurant, Bardog Tavern, Cafe Keough

East Memphis:

– One & Only BBQ has two East Memphis locations with tasty barbecue ribs, pulled pork, and more
– RP Tracks is a college bar with surprisingly great food; if you’re a vegetarian who wants barbecue, the BBQ tofu nachos there are A+
– For breakfast: Another Broken Egg, Sunrise Memphis, Big Bad Breakfast and Brother Junipers (the latter is immensely popular, expect a wait)
– Elwood’s Shack is in a tiny, actual shack in a Lowe’s parking lot; folks love their bbq, fish tacos, and breakfast. There's a new location in East Memphis not far from the stadium, too!
– Char is an upscale steakhouse, which often has live piano music.

MIDTOWN:

– Beauty Shop serves fusion food in a swanky atmosphere for lunch, dinner, and brunch
– Second Line serves New Orleans-style food (especially po-boys) and craft cocktails
– For breakfast: Cafe Eclectic, Celtic Crossing (brunch only)
– For bar hopping/late-night eating: Young Ave Deli, Alchemy, Madison Tavern
– Soul Fish Cafe serves soul food in a casual atmosphere
– Aldo’s is a chill pizza (they also have a downtown location)

NightLife

Along with phenomenal food, Memphis offers a stellar night life scene. All over town you’ll find unique dives, juke joints, clubs and bars. Discover the next batch of Memphis music legends, as you explore the various music rooms and lounges the city has to offer.

Beale Street and Downtown:

Historic Beale Street is a must-stop for visitors. Visit this world-famous street and its eclectic bars and clubs for the real Memphis experience. Surrounding Beale, downtown Memphis offers night clubs, discos, bars and so much more. You’ll find a bevy of hotspots on South Main St., as well as unique odds and ends that’ll make this a trip to remember.

– Alfred’s On Beale
– B.B. King’s Blues Club
– King Palace Café
– Jerry Lawler’s Hall of Fame Bar & Grille
– Jerry Lee Lewis’ Café & Honky Tonk
– Rum Boogie Café
– Silky O’Sullivan’s
– Tin Roof
– Wet Willies
– Coyote Ugly
– Paula and Raiford’s Disco
– SOB
– Bardog Tavern
– Local
– Fat Tuesday
– Memphis Made Brewing Company

University of Memphis & Highland Strip:

Head over to the Highland Strip for shopping, dining, and entertainment. Located near the University of Memphis—and just a couple miles from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium—the Highland Strip offers a collection of restaurants and bars to take your party late into the evening.

– Newby’s
– Char
– R.P. Tracks

Midtown’s Historic Cooper-Young Entertainment District:

The historic Cooper-Young Entertainment District is known for its artistic, creative vibe. Visit this eccentric neighborhood–just blocks from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium—to find bars, entertainment venues, rail-yard hangouts and more.

– Celtic Crossing
– Hammer & Ale
– Bar DKDC
– Young Avenue Deli
– Alchemy
– Cafe Olé
– Knifebird

Overton Square in Midtown:

From piano bars to music rooms, and plenty of other lively joints, Overton Square in midtown is one of Memphis’ most popular scenes for night life.

– Babalu Tacos and Tapas
– Bayou Bar and Grill
– Madison Tavern
– Lafayette’s Music Room

Other Events in Town:

For fans craving more sports action while in town, check out the Memphis Grizzlies and the Memphis Tigers men's basketball team at FedExForum.

Also, check out this Guide To New Year’s in Memphis.

About the Author

Born and raised in Memphis, J.T. Mullen has written about the city and its surrounding area for more than seven years. You'll probably catch him in the stands of a Memphis Tigers basketball or football game with barbecue nachos in hand.

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Fan Guide to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl