The St. Louis Cardinals, the city of Memphis and the Memphis Redbirds Baseball Foundation have completed the ownership transition of the Memphis Redbirds and AutoZone Park  as part of a multi-party transaction that secures the long-term future of minor league baseball in Memphis.

“We are pleased to finalize the purchase of the Redbirds and are looking forward to a long- term partnership with the city of Memphis,” added William DeWitt Jr., chairman and CEO of the St. Louis Cardinals. “Finalizing this deal represents a positive move toward stability of professional baseball in Memphis.”

As part of the agreement, the St. Louis Cardinals have acquired the Memphis Redbirds, while the city of Memphis has acquired AutoZone Park. The city will lease the ballpark to the Redbirds via a long-term lease agreement. The purchase agreement includes a significant, multi-season capital investment in AutoZone Park, which will be used to add state-of-the-art features and fan-friendly amenities to the ballpark. At closing, Fundamental Advisors LP, the Foundation’s sole bondholder, retired the original bonds issued by the Memphis Center City Revenue Finance Corp.

“This is a great day for the people of Memphis,” said John Pontius, treasurer for the Memphis Redbirds Baseball Foundation. “All of us stand to benefit from the significant planned improvements to AutoZone Park, which will enhance the fan experience and bring renewed excitement to the city. With the Cardinal’s best-in-class leadership, the Redbirds are destined for great things.”

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