Memphis Pyramid
The Memphis Pyramid, formerly known as the Great American Pyramid and the Pyramid Arena, is a pyramid-shaped building located in downtown Memphis, Tennessee, United States, at the bank of the Mississippi River. Built in 1991 as a 20,142-seat arena, the facility was owned and operated jointly by the city of Memphis and Shelby County; Shelby County sold its share to Memphis in April 2009. Its structure plays on the city's namesake in Egypt, which is known for its ancient pyramids. It is 321 feet (98 m) (about 32 stories) tall and has base sides of 591 feet (180 m); it is by some measures the tenth-tallest pyramid in the world.
| Memphis Pyramid | |
|---|---|
The Pyramid in 2016 | |
| Former names | Great American Pyramid Pyramid Arena |
| Alternative names | The Pyramid Bass Pro Shops Pyramid The Tomb of Doom |
| General information | |
| Location | Memphis, Tennessee |
| Address | 1 Bass Pro Drive |
| Current tenants | Bass Pro Shops |
| Groundbreaking | September 15, 1989 |
| Opened | November 9, 1991 |
| Renovated | November 2011–April 2015 |
| Cost | US$65 million ($125 million in 2022 dollars) |
| Owner | City of Memphis |
| Height | 321 feet (98 m) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Rosser Fabrap International O.T. Marshall Architects (Bass Pro Shops improvements) |
| Other information | |
| Public transit access | MATA Main Street Line Riverfront Loop |
The Memphis Pyramid has not been regularly used as a sports or entertainment venue since 2007. In 2015, the Pyramid re-opened as a Bass Pro Shops megastore, which included shopping, a hotel, restaurants, a bowling alley, and an archery range, with an outdoor observation deck adjacent to its apex.