FedExForum, the 18,000-seat arena on Beale Street, is home to the Memphis Grizzlies NBA basketball team. The Grizzlies relocated from Vancouver in 2001 and spent their early years struggling, but the team built a passionate local following during the early 2010s when the "Grit and Grind" era teams — built around Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol, Mike Conley, and Tony Allen — made deep playoff runs with a physical, defensive style that matched the city's character. That identity stuck.
A Grizzlies game is a good evening option between October and April, when Memphis's outdoor attractions lose some of their appeal. The arena is well-designed for basketball, with good sight lines from most seats, and the atmosphere on a big game night is genuine. Tickets for non-marquee games are usually available and reasonably priced. The arena's location, one block from Beale Street, makes it easy to combine with dinner or drinks before or after the game.