Step Up to the Court : How to Navigate a Grizzlies Game

If you haven’t been to a Grizzlies basketball game downtown, you’re truly missing out on a parenting milestone. You know the one? Where you have a ball-loving kid and they’re old enough to enjoy (and participate in) cheering on the home team. During our son’s elementary years, we would occasionally attend Memphis Tiger games. And while college basketball is super fun, it doesn’t hold a candle to attending a real pro game (sorry, not sorry!). So when he turned a teenager, my husband and I decided that he was “old enough” to appreciate the higher-level games and wouldn’t be interested in just the nachos.

But driving downtown can be a bit daunting if you’re not used to heading down there. Downtown is dangerous and scary. Well — actually it’s NOT — but it’s the number one “excuse” we hear about attending events. So here at Memphis Moms we want you to step up to the court. We want you to not only enjoy going to the FedEx Forum, but feel confident doing so. Here’s your step-by-step guide to navigating Grizz Games:

Where to Park

First things first. Parking. UGH. We’ll collectively groan at the parking issue. HOWEVER — hear us out. There’s actually great parking available — you just need to know where to go.

The most obvious is the parking garage directly attached to the Forum. Typically this is reserved for season ticket holders, so use this as a sign to go ahead and sign up for next year’s season. This garage is excellent — there’s security stationed on each level and you go straight through the metal detectors and into the arena. I have a friend who has access to box tickets and we were able to park in the garage. We were literally a 1 minute walk to the doors and a 1 minute jaunt through security. We were in our box seats in under 10 minutes from the time we turned off the ignition.

If you don’t have access to the attached parking garage, that’s ok! The absolute next best is the public lot caddy-corner to the entrance to the Forum, on the corner of Dr ML Kind Jr Ave and S Fourth Street. It’s $20 per car (CASH ONLY), but it’s well lit and has real humans collecting the money and monitoring the cars. It’s a gated lot and when we took my son and his 3 friends to a night game, we felt totally safe walking the length of the lot and crossing at the cross-walk there, dumping us out on the East entrance of the arena. Security took a hot 5 minutes this time, and bam! We were in and directly in front of the 100s section of seating.

Another great option is to park at the Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ. It also has a real person taking your money (we paid $15 in cash the last time we went) and there is security in the lot. From there, you walk past Robert Church Park to the BACK side of the Forum, on 4th street. You can enter the Forum from the back, and *bonus* the lines to get in are usually shorter than along the front of the stadium. However, the last time we went, you could only get in on that side if you didn’t have a bag at all. Moms, if you have bigger kids and don’t HAVE to carry a bag, consider just taking your phone, ID, and credit card only.

Other options include the pay-to-park lots adjacent to the Redbird’s stadium and along 4th street (turn left from Union at the first redlight onto S Fourth St). There’s a row of gated parking where you plug your license plate number into a machine and can use a credit card to pay. This is about a 5-10 minute walk to the front of the Forum, but it’s lit the whole way and there’s roving security around plus Memphis police monitoring the top of Beale Street.

If you have a child who needs wheelchair access, you’ll enter the Forum from the front on B.B. King Blvd. The ADA accessible entrance is all the way to the right, if you are looking at the FedEx Forum. It’s very easy to get in and we’ve taken my son in a wheelchair a few times and never had any issues.

Security and other safety measures

The FedEx Forum has a strict clear bag policy. Each bag will be searched and every person will walk through metal detectors. Within the last year, the Memphis police force has increased their presence downtown and have officers positioned in and around the arena. The city has recently announced a new downtown command center that will be open in April and they are installing 183 new cameras all around downtown for additional security. Inside the arena, FedEx Forum security, off-duty police officers, and Shelby County Sheriff deputies are on site before, during, and after events. 

There are no strollers allowed in the game. But an infant in a carrier is fine. They will also allow diaper bags, but they will have to be searched before you can enter. There is a separate line for that, either all the way to the left or all the way to the right. But the workers at the gate will be able to answer any questions you have about where to go.

As we have seen when there was a medical emergency just this season, there are paramedics and EMTs at the game that will spring into action should anything happen.

Food

Ok, now that you’re in the arena, let’s switch gears and talk about FOOD. I mean, this is half the reason people attend games: “tailgating” type grub. But let me tell you that the FedEx Forum has OUTDONE itself with their newly renovated food court area. There’s an abundance of local restaurants represented — the famous Rendezvous BBQ, Tacos N Ganas, Huey’s, and Rock’n Dough Pizza. There’s also Chick Fil A (not open for Sunday games), concession areas for burgers, nachos, fries, and other traditional game food. There’s gourmet popcorn and roasted nuts by iPop gourmet popcorn. Then there’s the new “KID BITES” — chicken tenders, tater tots, corn dogs, etc. — all made for little hands (and “picky” eaters). There are also gelato stands, MemPops, soft serve ice cream, and even sundaes made in plastic basketball bowls (a fun take-home souvenir).

… and drinks

There are bars on every level selling draft beers, canned beers, canned seltzer drinks, and cocktails. There is also a Wiseacre station, featuring a handful of their more famous beers, plus their new vodka sodas. There’s also an Old Dominick’s Distillery bar near section 103 for a variety of craft cocktails AND cocktails on draft! (who knew this was a thing?) If you’re just really thirsty and don’t want to wait in line to order something, there’s a whole new “GRAB & GO” section of drinks with self-serve payment kiosks. There’s both canned beer and bottled soda and waters for sale.

No bad seating

No matter where in the Forum you sit, there are honestly no bad seats! Here are a few of our pictures from various games this year:

Special accommodations

Have a kid that’s easily over-stimulated? Maybe can’t sit through 3 hours in a stadium chair without getting the wiggles? Guess what? It’s totally fine. In fact, the FedEx Forum understands there are kids with all sorts of different abilities and families don’t want to leave their spicy kids at home to miss the fun. So they’re ready for you. Head to a Concierge station anywhere in the building (there are one or two on almost every level!) and you can check out a Sensory Bag. The bag includes noice reducing/canceling headphones, fidget toys, and a communication card showing feelings and physical needs.

If your child really needs a break from the crowd, there’s an entire Sensory Room. Located on the level where the box seats are, you need to be accompanied to the room and have it unlocked by a staff member. This room is typically reserved for 1 parent and child (not the entire family hanging out). However, if it’s empty they’re a little more lax on giving families the opportunity to regroup before heading back into the arena.

The Forum also offers ear plugs, ear protection and binocular rentals, and even sells batteries at their Concierge and Guest Relations stations. This is for anyone to utilize!

The handicap accessible, ADA seating is at the top of the lowest level of seats, right below the box seats. To get to them, you take the elevator down as if you were going to a box. Halfway down the aisle of box seats, there is a wheelchair lift. It will fit an adult and a pediatric-sized wheelchair or just an adult wheelchair. From the seats, you still have access to the main concourse area to get concessions and go to the restroom.

Finally, the FedEx Forum debuted a Mamava Lactation Pod this past October. Located right outside section 107 on the Pinnacle level, it’s a quiet place for moms to breastfeed or use a pump. Moms can access the pod by visiting Guest Services.

More than hooping

What’s amazing about taking your kids to a Grizzlie’s game is the fact it’s so much more than just basketball! The Grizz girls perform throughout the game, getting the crowd loud and engaged. Plus these girls are athletes in their own right. Their performances between quarters are incredible!

And let’s not forget about the Grizz Grannies and Grandpas. Apparently I’m now old enough to try out for the grannies, so I’ve added this to my life bucket list.

The Grizz Line is the professional drum line. They perform at every game and also out and about in the community at other city events and parades. Their time on the court is literally my favorite part of the evening (I’m also partial to them because we have a good friend who performs for them!). If you have a budding drummer in your family, they definitely need to see the Grizz Line perform live!

While we’re on the topic of music, let’s chat a bit about the Grizzlie’s DJ. HE IS INCREDIBLE. “DJ Mic Tee” keeps the crowd pumped up, mixing songs together with perfect timing as the game progresses. There’s often a lot of crowd engagement and sing alongs.

And we can’t talk about a Grizzlie’s game without mentioning Grizz, the best mascot. Personally my favorite iteration of Grizz is Super Grizz. I love watching him do trick shots and dunks with the Kings of the Court.

Basketball fans tend to hit the restrooms and concessions during the halftime, but don’t be so quick to exit your seats if you have kids! There’s always a halftime show and it’s typically traveling talents or friendly audience competitions. The last few games attended had a cirque du sol type performer, an Army band (they were really good!), a guy that stacks chairs and then climbs up them (so, so high. My kids still talk about him), and the famous Beale Street Flippers.

There’s an app for that

Did you know that the Grizzlies now have an app!?! You can shop for Grizzlies gear, buy game tickets, watch videos, and learn all about the team and players all in one place. Plus the app was developed here in Memphis! There is also information about the FedEx Forum, including Memphis Tigers information and a schedule of all the events that are there. Everything you need to know is in one convenient place! Available in the app store and on Google Play.

All the other details

For tickets, click here.

For Junior Grizzlies summer camp information, click here.

For instagram, head here. And for TikTok, head here.