Memphis News: Mid-South Coliseum's Second Act, Schools' Phone Rules, and City Repairs on the Rise
- Dr. Layne McDonald
- 7 hours ago
- 7 min read
By Dr. Layne McDonald, Founder of Memphis News with a Purpose
Direct Answer First
Memphis leaders are weighing three practical questions with long-term consequences: whether the Mid-South Coliseum can receive a responsible second act, how schools should balance phone-free learning with family safety, and whether a new citywide maintenance strategy can keep streets and storm drains ahead of trouble.
The Coliseum has no approved redevelopment plan, but a local preservation coalition is seeking support for an initial study. MSCS continues its all-day rule requiring personal communication devices to be powered off and stored away. Meanwhile, Public Works is reporting measurable progress through a 10-zone approach, even as residents continue to identify streets needing attention.
The Christian question is not simply, “Who wins the argument?” It is, “How can Memphis pursue truth, order, stewardship, and peace while caring for the whole community?”
1. Mid-South Coliseum: Preserve, Redevelop, or Demolish?
The Memphis City Council discussed the dormant Mid-South Coliseum during its Aug. 18, 2026, Economic Development, Tourism and Technology Committee meeting. No concrete redevelopment plan or funding package has been approved.
Corey Strong, who leads the Mid-South Coliseum Conservatory, asked the Council for a vote of confidence as the coalition explores an initial study with Memphis architecture firm LRK. The proposal would preserve the arena and convert it into a multiuse venue somewhat like Crosstown Concourse. Strong has indicated that private funding would likely be necessary, while the city continues maintaining the building.
The Coliseum opened in 1964 and closed in 2006. It hosted Memphis Tigers basketball, concerts, wrestling, Elvis-related history, and events connected to the city’s cultural and civil-rights story. Supporters argue that demolition would erase an important part of Memphis memory. They also believe a renovated venue could attract visitors, create economic activity, and help activate Liberty Park.
Strong summarized the urgency in a statement reported by The Commercial Appeal: “Every day we wait, we're losing money on that property.”
The case for preservation
Supporters see the Coliseum as more than an aging structure. They see a potential gathering place where history, entertainment, business, and neighborhood activity could meet.
A restored venue could provide space for concerts, sports, trade events, community programs, and cultural exhibits. It could also complement other Liberty Park attractions rather than leaving the property inactive.
Preservation advocates are not asking Memphians to ignore the cost. Their argument is that a serious feasibility study could determine whether private investment, nonprofit leadership, and careful public oversight can make reuse realistic.
The case for caution
Skeptics point to the city’s existing maintenance obligations and the absence of a finalized funding plan. They also question whether Liberty Park’s wider private development has moved quickly enough to support another ambitious project.
The broader Liberty Park project has been discussed in the context of an estimated $112.5 million development and concerns about approximately $3.6 million in annual debt service. Those figures should be understood as project-context numbers in the current civic debate: not as an approved new Coliseum budget.
The responsible next step is clear: public officials should require transparent cost estimates, structural assessments, private funding commitments, operating projections, and a clear explanation of who bears financial risk. In other words, hope should be welcomed, but stewardship must test the numbers.
As Scripture says, “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5, ESV).
2. MSCS Phone Rules: Focus, Safety, and Trust
Memphis-Shelby County Schools is maintaining an essentially unchanged cell phone policy as approximately 106,000 students begin the 2026–27 school year.
Under the district’s policy, students may not possess a phone or personal communication device that is turned on, visible, or audible during the school day. Devices must be powered off and stored in a school-approved location. The policy includes phones, smartwatches, tablets, gaming devices, and similar personal electronics.
The rule aligns with Tennessee requirements restricting wireless communication devices in schools. Exceptions may apply for documented health needs, disability accommodations, assistive technology, or situations authorized by school officials.
Why supporters favor the rule
Supporters say phones can interrupt instruction, fuel online conflict, reduce face-to-face interaction, and make it harder for students to focus. A consistent districtwide policy may also reduce confusion for teachers and help classrooms become calmer places for learning.
The principle behind the policy is simple: students need protected time to listen, think, read, solve problems, and build relationships without constant digital interruption.
“Focus is a form of stewardship” is more than a slogan. It is a reminder that attention is a limited gift.
Why critics remain concerned
Some parents and students worry about communication during emergencies, including lockdowns or medical crises. They also question whether every school can enforce the rules consistently and fairly.
Those concerns deserve a respectful response. Families should know exactly how to contact a school during the day, how emergency notifications will be handled, and how students with medical or disability-related needs will receive accommodations.
A strong policy must be paired with strong communication. Parents should review their child’s school-specific procedures rather than relying on social media summaries or rumors.
The biblical call to order does not eliminate compassion. First Corinthians 14:40 teaches, “Let all things be done decently and in order.” Order should protect learning while leaving room for legitimate safety and health needs.
For additional faith-and-community perspective, readers can explore Memphis News coverage on building our city together.
3. Public Works: A Ten-Zone Strategy Shows Progress
Memphis Public Works is using a 10-zone strategy to address potholes, storm drains, and street cleaning more systematically. Director Scott Morgan says the goal is to move from a mostly reactive model toward routine maintenance that prevents problems before they become emergencies.
City figures provided for this roundup report that crews have patched more than 7,000 potholes, cleared about 6,000 storm drains, and cleaned approximately 3,000 miles of streets. A previous official progress report documented an early phase with 3,591 potholes filled, 2,699 storm-drain inlets cleaned, and 1,436 roadway miles swept during 62 working days, in addition to thousands of resident service calls.
The city says a full zone cycle takes approximately three to four months.
Why the strategy matters
Potholes affect safety, vehicle damage, transportation, and public confidence. Blocked drains can contribute to flooding, especially during severe weather. Street cleaning also affects how residents experience their neighborhoods.
A zone system gives crews a repeatable schedule. It allows Public Works to identify issues while working in an area rather than waiting for every problem to be reported separately.
Residents can still report concerns through Memphis 311. For roads maintained by the state, residents may need to contact TDOT rather than the city.
What still needs attention
Progress does not mean every street is fixed. Residents continue to report problem areas, and some repairs may need more than patching. Weather, traffic, staffing, drainage design, and the difference between city- and state-maintained roads can all affect results.
The best measure will be whether repairs last, flooding decreases, response times improve, and neighborhoods across Memphis receive dependable service: not only whether a large number of work orders are closed.
Luke 16:10 offers a useful civic principle: “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much.” Steady maintenance may seem ordinary, but faithful attention to ordinary needs can restore public trust.
Christian Takeaway
These three stories point to one shared lesson: stewardship is measured by how we handle what has already been placed in our care.
The Coliseum asks whether Memphis can honor its history without making reckless promises. The phone policy asks whether schools can protect attention while respecting legitimate safety concerns. Public Works asks whether consistent work can rebuild trust one street at a time.
Christians should resist both cynicism and blind enthusiasm. We can celebrate progress, ask hard questions, protect vulnerable people, and insist that public decisions be honest and accountable.
How to Pray/Engage
Pray for City Council members, Mayor Paul Young, and civic leaders as they evaluate the Coliseum and Liberty Park.
Ask MSCS leaders to communicate clearly with parents about emergency procedures and accommodations.
Encourage students to follow phone rules while helping families understand how school communication works.
Report potholes, clogged drains, and other public concerns through Memphis 311.
Attend public meetings, read official documents, and ask questions without attacking neighbors who hold a different view.
For a broader discussion of faith, evidence, and thoughtful public engagement, read Can faith and reason coexist?.
Peacemaker’s Perspective
A peacemaker does not avoid disagreement. A peacemaker helps disagreement become more truthful, fair, and constructive.
In the Coliseum debate, preservation supporters should explain the financial plan, while skeptics should acknowledge the building’s cultural value. In the school phone debate, supporters should address emergency communication, while critics should recognize the educational damage caused by constant distraction. In public works, city leaders should report progress honestly, while residents should continue providing specific, useful feedback.
Memphis does not need louder arguments as much as it needs trustworthy processes. “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9) calls us to participate in those processes with courage and humility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Mid-South Coliseum redevelopment approved?
No. The Memphis City Council discussed the venue on Aug. 18, but no final redevelopment plan or funding package has been approved.
What is the proposed future for the Coliseum?
The Mid-South Coliseum Conservatory, led by Corey Strong, is seeking support for an initial study with LRK. The broader vision is a privately funded, multiuse venue similar in concept to Crosstown Concourse.
Can MSCS students bring cell phones to school?
Students may bring phones to school, but devices must be powered off and stored in a school-approved location during the school day. Exceptions may apply for documented health, disability, assistive technology, or authorized emergency needs.
Why is MSCS restricting phones?
Supporters say the policy reduces distractions and improves student focus and interaction. Critics are concerned about safety, emergency communication, and consistent enforcement.
How can Memphis residents report a pothole or clogged drain?
Residents can report city-maintained street and drainage concerns through Memphis 311. State-maintained roads may require a report to TDOT.
Sources and Further Reading
Call to Action
Choose one constructive step today: review your child’s MSCS phone procedure, report a street or drainage problem through 311, or follow the next public discussion about the Mid-South Coliseum. Then share this roundup with someone who wants Memphis to pursue progress with truth, order, and peace.
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