Mayor Willie Herenton announced, Tuesday, January 29, 2008, plans to abandon the idea of building a new Liberty Bowl Stadium in Memphis.  Herenton said the city needs more convention space instead of a new football stadium.

According to Herenton, a consultant will be hired and a committee will convene in the next 30 days to start looking at the possibility of expanding the Cook Convention Center or build a new convention center.    Herenton also says a new 1,000 room hotel is needed downtown to accommodate conventions.

In 2001, the City-County Convention Center Commission was sued for $39.7 million by Maryland-based Clark Construction for cost overruns incurred during the expansion of the Cook Convention Center.  The Cannon Center and the Performing Arts Center were constructed as part of that $92 million project.

Mayor Herenton also announced that a deal with Bass Pro Shops, to turn the Pyramid into a store, will most likely go through.  According to Herenton, the deal could be signed as early as Wednesday, January 30th. 

Memphis and Shelby County leaders are on their way to Springfield, MO and the headquarters of Bass Pro Shops.  The Memphis team will get a close-up look at the company's mega-store in Springfield to decide if one should be built at the Pyramid.

Bass Pro Shops announced nearly two years ago it had designs on transforming the vacant sports arena from a dust collector into a thriving destination retail center.  However, the process has been slow going.  The company has signed a series of letters of intent with the city while appearing reluctant to sign where it counts.

Officials say the prospect of a deal with Bass Pro will likely hinge on the success of this road trip, which comes days before a hard deadline of January 31st.

Herenton says a proposal by developer Greg Ericson is still being considered.  That plan is to create "Pyramid Harbor," a multi-million dollar theme park designed to bring tourists from major cities.

It's your turn to Speak Up! Memphis.