As football season looms Liberty Bowl contract remains undecided
By: Joseph Russel
Issue date: 8/14/08 Section: Sports
With kickoff to football season less than a month away, the Tigers still don't have a lease to play in Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. While a final contract is still "in review," neither side has reached an agreement.
"As far as we know, no kinks are being worked out right now," said Elbert Jefferson, legal representative for the city of Memphis. "We're just reviewing the contract and taking care of our due diligence."
University of Memphis legal counsel Sheri Lipman disagreed.
"The hold-up right now is that we have a set amount of money we want to pay and the city wants us to pay more," she said.
Lipman said she couldn't discuss the terms of contract negotiations, but said that the school will likely seek a deal lasting into 2012 or 2013.
"Usually the contracts we have with them are around four or five years," she said. "I think the last contract we had was for two or three years. That's why we're entering these talks earlier than we usually would."
U of M athletic director R.C. Johnson isn't too worried about the whole situation, because The University has been through a situation like this in the past.
"A few years ago, the football team played three seasons of a five-year contract that wasn't signed until after the third year," said Bob Winn, associate athletic director of external affairs.
While university officials hope there will be a lease officially signed by the time the Tigers' home opener against Rice on Sept. 6, they know they will still have a place to play football even if a deal can't be worked out before then.
"The Liberty Bowl opened in 1965 and we've been playing football there ever since," Winn said. "We've never missed a season and there's no reason to think we will anytime soon."
While Winn said he thinks the issue will be resolved without a problem, he doesn't know how deep both sides are into negotiation.
"As far as the athletic department goes, we have not seen a written contract laid out in front of us," Winn said. "But I have enough faith in the legal counsel of the city and the legal counsel of The University that they'll get it taken care of. The city is a great friend to this institution and I'm certain this contract will get worked out."
Even though Winn said the city and The University have been working together for a long time, he knows everything must come down to business when dealing with these kinds of circumstances.
"I know we're still in negotiations and I'm sure it's a lengthy contract, so it'll be long-going until both sides reach an agreement," he said. "There's going to be a lot of give-and-take."
Even with all of the uncertainties over when a deal will be struck or the details of the contract, both sides are confident that they'll get it taken care of.
"The University and the city of Memphis are both governmental entities and we'll work together to find a solution. People shouldn't worry because we both keep the taxpayers in mind when we deal with these things," Lipman said. "We have faith in the city and they have faith in us that the situation will be resolved."
"As far as we know, no kinks are being worked out right now," said Elbert Jefferson, legal representative for the city of Memphis. "We're just reviewing the contract and taking care of our due diligence."
University of Memphis legal counsel Sheri Lipman disagreed.
"The hold-up right now is that we have a set amount of money we want to pay and the city wants us to pay more," she said.
Lipman said she couldn't discuss the terms of contract negotiations, but said that the school will likely seek a deal lasting into 2012 or 2013.
"Usually the contracts we have with them are around four or five years," she said. "I think the last contract we had was for two or three years. That's why we're entering these talks earlier than we usually would."
U of M athletic director R.C. Johnson isn't too worried about the whole situation, because The University has been through a situation like this in the past.
"A few years ago, the football team played three seasons of a five-year contract that wasn't signed until after the third year," said Bob Winn, associate athletic director of external affairs.
While university officials hope there will be a lease officially signed by the time the Tigers' home opener against Rice on Sept. 6, they know they will still have a place to play football even if a deal can't be worked out before then.
"The Liberty Bowl opened in 1965 and we've been playing football there ever since," Winn said. "We've never missed a season and there's no reason to think we will anytime soon."
While Winn said he thinks the issue will be resolved without a problem, he doesn't know how deep both sides are into negotiation.
"As far as the athletic department goes, we have not seen a written contract laid out in front of us," Winn said. "But I have enough faith in the legal counsel of the city and the legal counsel of The University that they'll get it taken care of. The city is a great friend to this institution and I'm certain this contract will get worked out."
Even though Winn said the city and The University have been working together for a long time, he knows everything must come down to business when dealing with these kinds of circumstances.
"I know we're still in negotiations and I'm sure it's a lengthy contract, so it'll be long-going until both sides reach an agreement," he said. "There's going to be a lot of give-and-take."
Even with all of the uncertainties over when a deal will be struck or the details of the contract, both sides are confident that they'll get it taken care of.
"The University and the city of Memphis are both governmental entities and we'll work together to find a solution. People shouldn't worry because we both keep the taxpayers in mind when we deal with these things," Lipman said. "We have faith in the city and they have faith in us that the situation will be resolved."