The recent passing of iconic businessman, philanthropist, and sports enthusiast Fred Smith served as a poignant reminder of how the city of Memphis benefited from his devotion and support of the local sports scene.
The Impact of Fred Smith On Memphis Sports
Smith, the visionary founder of FedEx, began supporting the Memphis PGA Tour in 1986. The event was later re-named the FedEx Cup in 2007 in recognition of Smith’s financial sponsorship. Since 2019, Memphis has hosted one of the PGA Tour’s premier events, the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Each year, the city of Memphis benefits from the influx of tourists and golf enthusiasts who come to watch the world’s top golfers compete at TPC Southwind.
Smith’s unparalleled support of sporting franchises and community-based sporting events is unmatched. His generosity and the legacy he leaves behind cannot be overstated. In addition to golf, Smith was an ardent supporter of pro basketball and instrumental in bringing the NBA to Memphis. In 2001, three other cities were competing with Memphis to become the relocation site of the Vancouver Grizzlies. But Smith’s commitment during the negotiations was the primary reason for the team’s decision to relocate to Memphis.
His love of college football and support for the Memphis Tigers led to the establishment of another high-profile sporting event, the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. In 2023, Smith pledged $50 million for renovations to Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, which is home to the Memphis Tigers’ football team as well as the UFL Memphis Showboats.
How The Passing of Fred Smith Impacts The Memphis Showboats
Smith is responsible for the Showboats’ continued presence in Memphis. His unflagging support gave the team short-term security and stability in an otherwise shaky local market. There was always the presumption that if the opportunity arose, Smith would purchase the franchise to ensure its continued existence. However, with his passing, questions now arise regarding the future viability of the Memphis UFL franchise.
Despite the support and fervent presence of the passionate “Yacht Club,” Memphis has consistently posted the lowest attendance figures in the league. Despite a promise to improve attendance over the previous year, local marketing efforts this year proved ineffective. Instead of increasing attendance, the numbers dropped from the UFL’s inaugural year.
UFL Statement about the passing of Fred Smith:
“The Memphis Showboats of the United Football League are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Fred Smith. Mr. Smith’s love and devotion for the city of Memphis and this country were both unwavering and ardent. He was instrumental in bringing the Showboats back to Memphis, and our city, our team, and our league will miss him dearly. We offer our most heartfelt condolences to the entire Smith family, as well as all of those he touched in our Memphis community. His legacy in Memphis and the world is immeasurable.”
The Attendance Issue
In 2024, the average home game attendance at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium was 6,900 fans. In 2025, average attendance was less than 4,000 per game (3,846). However, this figure was somewhat skewed based on reported attendance for the Week 9 game against the Arlington Renegades, when only 2,044 fans showed up. It was the lowest recorded attendance ever for a spring football game.
Although stormy conditions and a lengthy rain delay might have impacted the fan turnout, it’s no wonder the Showboats wound up losing 20-12. While winning teams inevitably draw bigger crowds, it had to be discouraging for the team to come out to an empty home stadium. These athletes are playing their hearts out, risking serious injury to entertain fans. It’s rough when the fans don’t even care enough to show up.
Memphis is a city with a strong sports fan base, as exhibited by the average home attendance for the NBA Memphis Grizzlies. During the 2023-24 Grizzlies season, the per-game average was 16,631. However, NBA crowd comparisons aside, the average home attendance for the Memphis Tigers football team averaged 29,782 fans per home game in 2023.
A Perfect Marketing Opportunity
So why is there so little local support for a talented UFL team, and what, if anything, can be done to correct this? In all likelihood, part of the blame for the dismal attendance lies in the lack of a consistent, dedicated marketing campaign. However, if the Memphis Showboats’ marketing team wanted to correct the situation ahead of next season, they have a tremendous local opportunity.
The University of Memphis has a strong Greek System with more than 20 active fraternities and sororities on campus. The Showboats could sponsor a different fraternity or sorority each week, giving out a handful of free tickets, hoisting banners in the stadium, and announcing their presence over the loudspeaker. Greeks follow other Greeks to avoid the dreaded F.O.M.O.
Hopefully, this will create positive buzz, and the word of mouth will spur ticket sales. In addition, the team should be sponsoring a local Pro-Day with two or three Showboats’ teammates visiting the campus during the offseason to speak with college athletes. A question-and-answer session with Jaylon Allen or Dresser Winn about their personal experiences could create lasting fan engagement that carries over to the next season.
Beset by chaotic quarterback and coaching changes, the Showboats felt like a snakebitten organization this season. However, the team is filled with talented, dedicated players who deserve at least one more year to determine whether a UFL team is sustainable in Memphis. The Yacht Club, their small but mighty fan base, deserves another opportunity to convince others of what they’re missing by not attending home games and away game watch parties.
