a few more thoughts re: Pablo Torre ’s report on the grizzlies’ owner Robert Pera.

been working on an essay about what the grizzlies mean to memphis for a while. 🧵 /1

i also want the essay to bring attention to what feels inevitable at this point: the grizz leaving memphis within the next 5-8 years (probably at the conclusion of the current deal w/ FedEx forum).

/2

this hasn’t really been reported on at all. there’s some informed speculation out there, though.

i have talked with dozens of folks in memphis, w/ the grizz, and in the nba for this essay. (something I don’t really do).

/3

but that tees up the next part. I not only argue that the grizz are leaving memphis— they’re going to *nashville*

/4

now, for the uninitiated Memphis doesn’t exactly have fond feelings toward it’s neighbor three hours down I-40. the reasons for that animosity are complex. (could write a book about that topic alone).

/5

for starters— music. both have rich music history. I think there’s an argument that memphis is *the* music city in america but it’s not even no. 1 in TN.

johnny cash grew up in the east ar delta close to memphis (so did I). he played his first live performance in mem.

/6

cash retired to nashville and spent a huge part of his live there. it really rubs memphis that Cash is synonymous with nashville. bc it started here.

/7

so did the inspiration for literally every great band of the 60s and 70s. Led Zeppelin, the Stones, etc worshipped the blues players on Beale street. memphis was the cultural epicenter of the blues and rock and roll at one point. but it’s a sad shell of what it could be.

/8

the other reasons are economic. nashville had a smaller population than mem until the early 2010s. obviously nash is boom town today. while memphis has seen 3 decades of population decline.

/9

the upshot: losing our only pro team to nashville would be especially devastating.

/10

now on why grizz to nashville is a no brainer.

first, FedEx forum is 20 years old and needs a major upgrade.

the clippers’ state of the art arena is now the standard.

nashville also has an old arena. but the moment someone decides to build a new one it’s over.

/11

a new arena in a booming metro is something the NBA very much wants and needs.

and moving them 3 hours east would allow the team to retain a decent chunk of its fan base throughout the midsouth.

/12

now that move would obviously really really piss off die hard memphians, but I’m not sure the nba gives much of a shit. and why would they?

/13

some may think that Nashville would never support an nba team.

the nba couldn’t care less. why? bc they care about TV revenue. the more TV sets in the metro, the more $ they make. so if no one shows up they still make more $$. And so do all the other teams.

/14

the PTFO report on makes the above feel even closer. think it happens with or without a new owner tbh.

just a matter of time. and it makes me profoundly sad.

/end