Memphis Express home opener to include silent disco, tailgate competition

It started as an idea kicked around among members of the Memphis Express staff. Why not bring a silent disco to the Liberty Bowl?

Several mentioned they experienced it at Mempho Music Festival in October, and another person had participated in one in Denver. The idea was pitched to Express President Kosha Irby and he immediately was on board.

When the Express play their first home game against the Arizona Hotshots at 7 p.m. Saturday, 400-500 fans will be experiencing their own version of "Saturday Night Fever" on party decks near the north end zone.

It’s part of the vision Irby wants to sell to Memphis. Come for the football, soak in the random fun and return for more.

“What we’re trying to do is create an opportunity where pickles and peanut butter taste good together," Irby said. "A silent disco is awesome. A football game is awesome, but nobody’s ever thought to put them together and so that’s what we’re trying to do."

The Hub

The silent disco, which will feature three DJs spinning various genres, is believed to be the first to occur at a professional football game, Irby said.

When fans walk in, they’ll notice how the north end zone has been transformed into a party center known as “The Hub.” Besides the decks, there will be loge seating with chairs, cash bars and all-inclusive food and drink plans.

It’s an idea that seems more at home with events such as Coachella or Bonnaroo but fits in with the quirky vibe that Irby and his team wanted to create at Express games. Greg Herring, the Express' vice president of marketing, said that with the team not having a built-in fan base, they wanted to honor elements of things the city does well.

Two of those things? Memphis’ love of music and festivals.

“When you think about every weekend in the winter or the summer, there’s at least five different festivals you can go to (in Memphis),” Herring said. “Why not create our own festival atmosphere and have it unique and have a day of experiences that you’ll never forget?”

It’s part of the innovation Irby wanted to bring from his days as the former regional director of live events for World Wrestling Entertainment. With the AAF touting a faster pace of play, he didn’t want the Express to just have ordinary events. He wanted them to be unique and over the top.

If that means stacking events within events, a concept borrowed from WWE, so be it.

“Our goal is to try and create a scenario where every fan can enjoy themselves at our game,” Irby said. "We want to create memorable experiences, and in order to do that, you’ve got to think outside the box to create those experiences.”

Other fan activities

Saturday’s game also will include pregame festivities such as a tailgate competition featuring alumni of schools with players on the Express, including Memphis, Ole Miss and Arkansas. The winner will receive a prize after the game.

There will also be iHeartRadio music tents on Tiger Lane leading up to kickoff. During the game, music will be pumped into the Liberty Bowl between plays, and the video board will have several displays.

“People can always go to a football game or a sporting event, but they want an experience,” Herring said. “We need to do something to provide a product that is memorable and has an opportunity to be special.”

The silent disco is also just the first of several themed events for The Hub. Irby said the Express’ next home game (March 2) will have a Mardi Gras theme, and future games include a MemFeast theme, where fans in the Hub are served several meals tapas style, and a color game where fans in The Hub will be doused with colors similar to what happens on a color-themed run.

It sounds like a carnival environment, but for a start-up league, no idea is too wild to try. In Irby’s mind, the vibe is just as important as – if not more so than – wins or losses.

“If we can create a cause bigger than a championship, you’re really on to something,” Irby said. “We’re in the business of winning, but I also want to make sure that we entertain our fans.”

You can reach Evan Barnes on Twitter @Evan_B or by email at evan.barnes@commercialappeal.com

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