University of Memphis Fans to Pay Ticket Sales Tax, Arena to Lose Nearly 4,000 Seats

After making its 28^th appearance in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, the University of Memphis has announced changes to its ticketing process for men’s and women’s basketball and football for the 2025-26 school year.

Moving forward, fans can expect to pay the 9.75% Shelby County sales tax that the athletics department has previously absorbed. The change in sales tax policies applies to both season ticket holders and individual ticket purchasers. The price of the tickets themselves is not increasing.

Fox13 Memphis reported a press release from the University of Memphis. It reads, "Memphis athletics understands season ticket members are vital to the success and sustained competitive excellence of the department as a whole and is unveiling changes to its ticket structure to assist the department in the new era of college athletics. The department will not be adding any new fees for revenue sharing; however, season ticket members will be asked to pay the existing sales tax on tickets and parking. The adjustment to the sales tax on all tickets and parking will allow Memphis athletics to better align financially with aspirational institutions that are currently charging or will be adding sales tax to their tickets." 

Along with the added sales tax, the Tigers are also limiting the number of seats available during men’s basketball games. The reduction will bring the seating capacity in FedExForum down from 18,400 to roughly 14,470. Fans will recognize the curtain system at the North and South end of the stadium from the 2025 American Athletic Conference (AAC).