SHOWBOATS SERVE AS CONNECTION TO HOME FOR PASSIONATE FAN

Monica Bradford may live in Atlanta, but her heart has never left Memphis. Born and raised in the Bluff City, being a Memphian is a core part of her identity.

Bradford moved to Atlanta in 2003, immersing herself in the city’s culture. Football wasn’t always her passion, but Atlanta's devotion to the Falcons – coupled with her son’s time as a young football player – pulled her into the game.

“I kind of hopped on the bandwagon,” Bradford admits. “In Atlanta, if you don't support the Falcons, then something’s wrong with you. But I’m from Memphis.”

For years, that loyalty to her hometown didn’t have a natural outlet for her professional football fandom. But in 2022, the rebirth of the Memphis Showboats in the USFL changed everything. For Bradford, it was more than just a team returning to the gridiron – it was a bridge back to her roots.

“Along came the Showboats, and I thought, ‘I have to get on board with this. I have to be a part of this,’” she says.

Bradford’s introduction to the Showboats wasn’t just about the team; it was also about finding community. She discovered the Yacht Club, a passionate fan group, on Facebook and was immediately intrigued.

“I was drawn to the Yacht Club because (they) were putting all these cool pictures out there, all these designs. It was exciting,” she says. “I wanted to be a part of this group.”

In 2023, Bradford made her first pilgrimage back to Memphis to see the Showboats in action. The following year, she doubled down, vowing to attend one home game and one road game. She made good on that promise, traveling to Birmingham to watch the Showboats take on the Stallions. The opponent for the game she attended at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium also happened to be Birmingham.

Those games against the three-time champions didn’t go the Showboats’ way, but Bradford is undeterred.

“Let’s just say I think there’s a little rivalry there, between us and the little ponies,” she says with a laugh.

Her connection with the Yacht Club deepened that year. After missing out on meeting the group in 2023, she made sure to connect directly to coordinate plans.

“I sent a message saying, ‘Hey, I’m coming home. I need to know where you guys are at,’” she recalls. “I wanted to meet them, hang out, and just be a part of this Yacht Club group.”

For Bradford, the Showboats are more than just a team; they’re a symbol of Memphis pride and a call to community. She dreams of seeing larger crowds at games, urging her fellow Memphians to embrace the team as she has.

“One thing I would like to see is Memphis come out more, support the team more,” she says. “I think we’ve got a great thing with the Showboats. If we had that big crowd, that 12th man in the stands, it would give the team so much more motivation and excitement.”

Bradford has made it her mission to rally support, tapping into her network of high school friends, family, and social media connections to drum up enthusiasm.

“I tell them, ‘Hey, we’ve got the Showboats. Come out and support,’” she says. “The tickets are so affordable, and it’s a great time to bring out your family. We have the Grizzlies, the Memphis Redbirds, and now we have the Showboats.”

Her passion for the team is infectious, as evidenced by a moment at her first game. When the Showboats scored a touchdown, Bradford couldn’t contain her excitement.

“I was jumping up and down in the stands. This guy was beside me, and his wife was beside him. I didn’t know either of them, but I just started hitting him in pure excitement,” she says, laughing. “I said, ‘I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to beat your husband up, but I was so excited.’”

For Bradford, the Memphis Showboats are more than a team – they’re a connection to her hometown, a source of pride, and a way to create lasting memories.

“It’s given me something to be proud of being from Memphis, and it’s also opened the door for me to meet people I otherwise wouldn’t,” she says. “The Memphis Showboats bring the community together, out of their neighborhoods, and share something we all have in common – a love of football and a love for Memphis.”

Bradford’s message to her fellow Memphians is simple: the Showboats are an opportunity to create lasting memories.

“You make the moments you want to remember,” she says. “If people come out to see the Showboats, there are definitely opportunities to create family moments, moments they would love to remember.”

Through the Showboats, Bradford has continued to strengthen her connection to Memphis and a vibrant community that shares her pride. For her, every touchdown and every cheer in the stands is a reminder of what it means to call Memphis home – and a reminder that Memphis pride knows no distance.