The Tomb of Doom has showcased University of Memphis stars formore than 10 years, catapulting the likes of Penny Hardaway andLorenzen Wright to stardom.
But a recent meeting between Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton andthe Memphis Tigers athletic staff about the possible move to theFedEx Forum may possibly end the tradition of The Pyramid, causingunrest among Tiger fans.
"Ever since I was a kid, I've always gone to The Pyramid towatch the games," said Sammy Akil, junior biology major at The U ofM. "It's like home, and it's also what we're known for all acrossthe country."
Others are upset that the team could be shifted to accommodate acasino and are concerned that the Tigers will not be given prioritywhen scheduling home games.
"Our pyramid was not built by slot machines but by shot machineslike Penny Hardaway," said Will Hulsey, a Tiger basketball fan.
The possible move, which would be scheduled for next season, isintended to be beneficial to the Tigers as well as the city, saidHerenton in an interview with the Commercial Appeal.
The city will make annual payments to the Tigers, intended tobridge the financial gap between the Grizzlies and Tigers. Thepayments will cost far less than the annual $1.5 million the citypaid to keep The Pyramid operating, Herenton said.
Other Memphis residents are optimistic, hoping a possible movemay help generate revenue throughout the city and are eager to moveto a more modern facility.
"There will be no bad seats, no problems parking and a moreconvenient location," said Cristina Arce, a senior Spanish major atThe U of M. "Plus, it will be closer to the entertainment likeBeale Street so it will benefit the downtown merchant revenue."
The Tiger basketball team, however is not concerned about thelocation of their home games, said Modibo Diarra, center for The Uof M.
"Nobody is unhappy about it if it happens," he said. "As long aswe get to play ball, we're not going to complain."
The U of M Athletic Department insists no concrete plans havebeen made and says talks of the move are still ongoing.
"No decision has been reached involving The U of M basketballteam moving to the FedEx Forum," said R.C. Johnson, the athleticdirector at The U of M. "Negotiations are still ongoing."
