AutoZone Liberty Bowl Information

The AutoZone Liberty Bowl game is a tradition-rich college bowl game played annually in Memphis, TN. The Bowl was founded in Philadelphia in 1959 by Ambrose F. “Bud” Dudley, a sports and business executive. After five years in Philadelphia, Dudley moved the game to the Atlantic City Convention Center and in the process made history. The 1964 AutoZone Liberty Bowl was the first indoor college bowl game. The following year he went looking for a new place to hold the event. His first and only stop was Memphis. The Bowl has enjoyed many highlights in the years it has been in Memphis. But there were none more memorable than the 1982 game when Alabama coaching legend Paul “Bear” Bryant ended his illustrious career in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Thousands of fans from across the country came to see the “Bear” coach his final game. More than 1,000 media members covered the historic event. In 1993, another proud tradition that continues to this day was announced as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the AutoZone Liberty Bowl joined to form a terrific partnership. St. Jude is dedicated to helping the children throughout the world in their fight against catastrophic diseases. Beginning in 2004, Memphis-based AutoZone became the Bowl’s title sponsor.