Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee came through with funding for a proposed renovation of Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium renovations in Memphis.

City leaders in Memphis in October requested $350 million in cash from the state that would be a major portion of the proposed $150 million to $200 million renovation of the stadium. The state money is also expected to fund renovations at FedEx Forum and other Memphis venues, The Commercial Appeal reported.

While the stadium annually holds a bowl game between the SEC and Big 12. Last season, Arkansas beat Kansas 55-53 in overtime.

One reason to renovate the stadium is to boost Memphis’ hopes to join a Power 5 conference, after former American Athletic Conference members Houston, Cincinnati and UCF left for the Big 12.

Memphis in May released a video featuring renderings of the newly renovated stadium.

There’s expected to be a “halo space” at the top of the bowl. The football program also released other details about the renovations including:

  • A transformation of the stadium’s west side, providing several innovative premium seating options
  • Creating a hospitality experience within the halo space surrounding the stadium
  • Other new seating options, such as family boxes on the north end and party deck patios for students on the south end
  • A potential repurpose and retrofit of the east side suite tower.