Memphis Pyramid

The Memphis Pyramid, initially known as the Great American Pyramid, formerly referred to as the Pyramid Arena and locally referred to as The Pyramid, the Tomb of Doom[5] and the Bass Pro Shops Pyramid,[6] was originally built as a 20,142-seat arena located in downtown Memphis, in the U.S. state of Tennessee, at the banks of the Mississippi River. The facility was built in 1991 and was originally owned and operated jointly by the city of Memphis and Shelby County; Shelby County sold its share to Memphis in April 2009.[7] Its structure plays on the city's namesake in Egypt, known for its ancient pyramids. It is 321 feet (98 m) (about 32 stories) tall and has base sides of 591 feet (180 m); it is by some measures the tenth-tallest pyramid in the world.[8]

Memphis Pyramid
The Pyramid as seen in 2015
Former namesGreat American Pyramid
Pyramid Arena
Alternative namesThe Pyramid
Bass Pro Shops Pyramid
General information
LocationMemphis, Tennessee
Address1 Bass Pro Drive
Current tenantsBass Pro Shops
GroundbreakingSeptember 15, 1989[1]
OpenedNovember 9, 1991[2]
RenovatedApril 29, 2015
CostUS$65 million
($122 million in 2019 dollars[3])
OwnerCity of Memphis
Height321 feet (98 m)
Design and construction
ArchitectRosser Fabrap International[4]
O.T. Marshall Architects (Bass Pro Shops improvements)

The Memphis Pyramid has not been regularly used as a sports or entertainment venue since 2004. In 2015, the Pyramid re-opened as a Bass Pro Shops "megastore", which includes shopping, a hotel, restaurants, a bowling alley, and an archery range, with an outdoor observation deck adjacent to its apex.

Construction

The "Great American Pyramid" was conceived originally by Mark C. Hartz, a Memphis artist in about 1954. The project originally included three pyramids located on the south bluffs of Memphis overlooking the Mississippi River. The largest of the three would have been scaled at two-thirds the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza near Memphis, Egypt; the flanking structures would have been scaled at two-thirds the size of the main pyramid. The project languished for three decades until Mark's younger son, Memphian Jon Brent Hartz, resurrected the concept. Mark C. Hartz, who was well known for his architectural renderings, rendered a new bronze glass-glazed pyramid. After years of negotiations, the younger Hartz's concept was adopted by entrepreneur John Tigrett as a symbol for the city of Memphis. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on September 15, 1989, and the building was opened on November 9, 1991.

The construction of the building was managed by Sidney Shlenker, part owner of the Denver Nuggets and several entertainment companies, who Tigrett had brought to Memphis to develop tourist attractions in the building. Originally, there were plans for a shortwave radio station broadcasting Memphis music, an observation deck with an inclinator along the side of the building, a Hard Rock Cafe, a music museum, and a theme park on Mud Island along with other things. However, the plans were scrapped because of a fallout between Tigrett and Shlenker and the latter's financial difficulties.

Various former uses and events
Pyramid Arena
The Pyramid
The Pyramid Arena, as seen from the Auction Avenue bridge in 2002.
Address1 Auction Avenue
LocationMemphis, Tennessee
Coordinates35°9′20″N 90°3′7″W
OwnerCity of Memphis
OperatorSMG
CapacityConcerts: 21,000
Basketball:
20,142 (1991–2001)
19,405 (2001–2002)
19,351 (2002–2004)
Construction
Broke groundSeptember 15, 1989[1]
OpenedNovember 9, 1991[2]
Closed2004
ReopenedNovember 2011
Construction costUS$65 million
($122 million in 2019 dollars[3])
ArchitectRosser Fabrap International[4]
Structural engineerWalter P. Moore & Associates, Inc.[4]
General contractorHuber, Hunt & Nichols[4]
Tenants
Memphis Tigers (NCAA) (1991–2004)
Memphis Pharaohs (AFL) (1995–1996)
Memphis Grizzlies (NBA) (2001–2004)

The Pyramid was the home court for the University of Memphis men's basketball program, and later for the National Basketball Association's Memphis Grizzlies. However, both teams left The Pyramid in November 2004 to move into the newly built FedExForum. It was also home to the Memphis Pharaohs of the AFL.

The arena hosted the 1993 Great Midwest Conference Men's and Women's basketball tournaments, the 1994 and 1997 Southeastern Conference men's basketball tournament, the 1996 and 2000 Conference USA men's basketball tournament, and the 2003 Conference USA women's basketball tournament. It also held the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament in 1995, 1997, and 2001. The Grateful Dead played 2 shows on April 1&2 1995.

Singer Mary J. Blige performed at the arena in September 1997 during her Share My World Tour.

The Pyramid was the site in 1999 of the WWF St. Valentine's Day Massacre: In Your House pay-per-view; also in 1999 the rock bands the Rolling Stones and Phish played sold-out concerts.

It also hosted the boxing mega-fight between Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson in 2002, which Lewis won by a knockout in the eighth round.

From 2002 to 2006, the annual Church of God in Christ international holy convocations were held here.

In 2002, the arena hosted a concert, commemorating the 25th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death.

Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band performed what is reputed to be the last concert ever in the Pyramid, on February 3, 2007.

Filmmaker Craig Brewer used the building as a sound stage for his film Black Snake Moan in late 2005.[9]

Troubles and closure
The vacant Pyramid pictured in 2010.

On the Pyramid's opening night, the arena floor flooded because of inadequate drainage pumps, forcing stage hands to sandbag the entire perimeter to preserve the electrical runs under the stage.

The death knell for the arena sounded when the NBA's Grizzlies moved to Memphis from Vancouver. The Pyramid was originally thought to be more than suitable for an NBA team, but it was discovered that it needed to be significantly upgraded in order to be a viable NBA arena. The cost of upgrading to NBA standards made it more practical to build a new arena. As a result, the $250 million FedExForum was built and opened in 2004.

The City of Memphis's contract with the Grizzlies forbade the use of The Pyramid without the team's approval, and as a result, it went dark. A committee headed by Memphis businessman Scott Ledbetter studied possible uses of the arena in 2005, and considered such uses as converting the arena into a casino, an aquarium, a shopping mall, or an indoor theme park.[10] In November 2006, Congressman-Elect Steve Cohen (D-Tennessee) suggested that he would attempt to open a "Mid-American branch" of the Smithsonian Institution in the building. However, these plans were never realized. In the end, the Ledbetter committee on the building's future recommended that it be used for "destination retail" which would create more jobs and new tax revenues.

Bass Pro Shops and redevelopment
Interior of the Pyramid on Bass Pro Shops' opening day

In October 2005, media speculation began to focus on an aquarium or a Bass Pro Shops superstore as the most likely long-term tenants of the arena. In 2008, the city and Bass Pro Shops reached a "tentative" agreement, short on details, but based on an intent to develop the then-abandoned structure.[11] On June 30, 2010, after 5 years of negotiating, Bass Pro Shops and the City of Memphis signed an agreement for a 55-year lease for a Bass Pro Shops megastore. In addition, the redevelopment plans include revitalizing the Pinch District, which is the neighborhood east of the Pyramid. The city invested $30 million and hired O.T. Marshall Architects to help with the seismic retrofitting of the structure which was funded by sales tax revenue in the surrounding area. O.T. Marshall and Insight Design Architects was later was hired by Bass Pro Shops for its renovations and construction, leading to its opening April 29, 2015.[12] Construction was completed by W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Company.

In addition to the retail store itself, Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid is home to an archery range, shooting range, and laser arcade. The building also includes an Uncle Buck's Fishbowl and Grill with a bowling alley and a saltwater aquarium. The tallest freestanding elevator in America takes visitors to The Lookout at the Pyramid at the apex of the building, where they can take in the view on an indoor and outdoor observation deck or dine and drink at the "Sky High Catfish Cabin", a restaurant, bar, and aquarium at the top of the building. At the base of the Pyramid is a 100-room hotel known as the Big Cypress Lodge. Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid contains 600,000 gallons of water features and the largest collection of waterfowl and hunting-related equipment in the world.[13]

One million people visited Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid between the grand opening in April 2015 and July 8, 2015. Due in part to this large success, Bass Pro Shops is considering adding a zip-line and a second hotel to the Pyramid.[14]

Legacy

In 2011, a drawing of The Pyramid – alongside images of iconic structures from Tennessee's three other large cities (the AT&T Building in Nashville, Knoxville's Sunsphere, and the Tennessee Aquarium of Chattanooga) – was incorporated into the standard design of Tennessee's state-issued driver's licenses.

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See also

References
  1. Baird, Woody (September 15, 1989). "Memphis Will Celebrate". Associated Press. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  2. Baird, Woody (November 9, 1991). "Big Pyramid, Little Wonder". Associated Press. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  3. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  4. The Great American Pyramid
  5. "The Tomb of Doom". Arkansas Online. 2016-01-06. Retrieved 2020-06-03.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-01-11. Retrieved 2012-01-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. McMillin, Zack. Once filled to the rafters, Pyramid sits empty as its future is debated. Memphis Commercial Appeal, Sunday, May 10, 2009.
  8. "The World's Tallest 15 Pyramids". The Hungry Suitcase. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  9. "Casting call announced for 'Black Snake Moan'". Memphis Business Journal. Memphis, Tennessee. 2005-08-18.
  10. Williams, David (2007-12-12). "$250 million plan proposed for Pyramid, Mud Island". Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee.
  11. "Bass Pro Shops officially announce plans for the Pyramid". WMC-TV. 2006-02-02. Archived from the original on 2007-03-12.
  12. Maki, Amos (2011-08-11). "Crews to begin transforming Pyramid into Bass Pro store Oct. 11, sources say". Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee.
  13. "Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid".
  14. Evanoff, Ted. "Bass Pro attendance has topped 1 million". Retrieved 2015-08-03.
Preceded by
General Motors Place		 Home of the
Memphis Grizzlies
2001 – 2004		 Succeeded by
FedExForum
Preceded by
first arena		 Home of
Memphis Pharaohs
1995–1996		 Succeeded by
BancorpSouth Arena
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