Memphis' water crisis: Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium 'looking very good' for AutoZone Liberty Bowl

Jason Munz, Memphis Commercial Appeal
·2 min read
1

A deep, dayslong freeze that descended upon the Mid-South last week continues to wreak plumbing havoc for thousands across Memphis.

But Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium − home to the annual AutoZone Liberty Bowl, which is set to kick off Wednesday (4:30 p.m., ESPN) − is well prepared to host the Arkansas and Kansas football teams as well as the thousands of fans each program is expected to draw. So said Thomas Carrier, the facility's general manager.

“We’re going to have a game and we’re excited for it,” Carrier told The Commercial Appeal Tuesday morning. “We’ve got some backups in place, if need be. But we’ll have the stadium ready to rock for all the Razorbacks and Jayhawks coming to town.”

MLGW:MLGW just put in an emergency water order. Here's what that means for you.

LIBERTY BOWL:40 years ago, 'Bear' Bryant's final game became the greatest spectacle in Liberty Bowl history

SIGN UP: Sign up for the Memphis Tigers Basketball Insider text group with Jason Munz

Leaks and frozen pipes have left thousands with low water pressure or without it altogether. On Monday, Memphis Light, Gas and Water issued a boil water advisory for much of the city and said it could be four or five days before the advisory is lifted. Liberty Bowl officials issued a statement Monday evening to reassure fans and others that the "significant weather challenges" experienced by many around the country and in Memphis last week would not have any sort of adverse affect on Wednesday's game.

According to a press release, 400-plus standard ADA portable toilets will be placed in front of existing restrooms along concourse areas and 80 hand sanitizing stations will be placed near existing restrooms. All stadium seating, along with all tailgating areas, will remain fully accessible.

Should circumstances change for Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium before kickoff Wednesday, Carrier said he and his event operations staff has had enough time to put contingency plans in place. For instance, if water pressure issues arise, portable restroom facilities will be on hand.

Carrier added the existing boil water advisory will not impact Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. In the aftermath of COVID-19, the facility's concession areas moved away from offering fountain drinks to the exclusive sale of bottled beverages.

“Naturally, we’re not immune to all the issues everyone else is experiencing,” said Carrier. “So, we’ve been securing equipment and materials to have ready to deploy if we have to do that to minimize the impact to fans and everyone else. Any portable, temporary restroom facilities that we might need, we’ve got.

“But hopefully, we don’t have to draw them up. We are tracking good. Everything is looking very good.”

Arkansas (6-6) is a 2.5-point favorite over Kansas (6-6).

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis water crisis: AutoZone Liberty Bowl 'looking very good'