Mayor says Memphis will have more security during NCAA games

Shay Simon
·2 min read
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — As the city prepares to welcome thousands for March Madness at the FedExForum, safety is top of mind for Memphis leaders.

Last weekend while crowds of people came onto Beale Street to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, a deadly shooting took place outside of Jerry Lee Lewis’ and Honky Tonk at 310 Beale Street.

Man dead after shooting on Beale Street, suspect in custody

“People are scared in general. It’s not just downtown thing. In our city as a whole, we have seen far too many negative incidents,” Mayor-elect Paul Young said.

This upcoming weekend will be another busy one for the historic Beale Street as an estimated 20,000 basketball fans will descend upon downtown Memphis for the annual NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

This year, there have already been 127 incidents reported to the Memphis Police Department.

This comes on the heels of a 60-page saftey plan that was released by the city in 2023. It called for more police officers, lighting, cameras and even a 2 a.m. closing time for Beale Street bars.

“Those negative incidents do not define who we are,” Mayor Young said.

Ahead of the influx of visitors, Mayor Young told WREG’s Shay Simon the city’s upcoming plans to keep everyone safe:

We are super excited to welcome the NCAA tournament and guests to downtown next weekend. We will have enhanced security protocols throughout downtown – including bike and mounted MPD officers, additional screening efforts on Beale Street, plus an enhanced Blue Suede Brigade presence.

We have also enlisted downtown restaurants and retailers to expand hours, lighting, and vibrancy efforts in a collective response to show our expected 20-thousand plus guests the most welcoming Memphis experience.

-Mayor Paul Young

Tuesday, the Memphis Police Department is set to host a press conference to further discuss its new safety plan ahead of March Madness.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.