August 9, 2016- Wiseacre Brewing packaging team member Justin White walks through the Broad Street Brewery with brewer Sam Tomaszczuk. Wisacre co-founder Frank Smith has presented plans to the city for Wiseacre to lease out 60,000 square feet on the first floor of the Mid-South Coliseum. (Nikki Boertman/The Commercial Appeal)

Wiseacre Brewing co-founder Frank Smith used the words “crazy” and “goofy” to describe his idea to transform the Mid-South Coliseum into a mixed-use development anchored by the Memphis-based brewery.

But several City Council members and Coliseum advocates said during his presentation to council Tuesday they think the idea deserves a serious exploration.

The unorthodox plan calls for the city to lease out 60,000 square feet on the first floor of the Coliseum to Wiseacre, which would expand its workforce from 27 to between 80 and 100, and rent the remaining space to a mix of businesses that might include restaurants, a bowling alley, climbing walls, a wrestling museum and a Civil Rights homage.

Smith said the plan would be thoroughly and publicly vetted ahead of a tentative construction start date in early 2017. The deal has to happen by then, “or else we’ll just have to go somewhere else.”

The idea would be a large undertaking for the brewery, which is not asking for any city money — although it could tap federal historic redevelopment credits. Before spending money, Smith said, he wants assurance from the council that it’s behind his vision.

“The ask I have is not for money; it’s for certainty,” he said.

Council members warmly welcomed the idea, which could gain appeal if the University of Memphis is invited to join the Big 12 athletic conference and as renovations wrap up at the nearby Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

“I think it would be an awesome game-day experience,” said council member Philip Spinosa Jr.

Council member Janis Fullilove said the idea is “worth looking into.”

The plan would give Wiseacre, which currently operates a brewery and taproom on Broad Avenue, room to grow as it prepares to increase its production capacity from 22,000 barrels per year to around 100,000.

“Our business is capped until we decide what we’re going to do next,” Smith said.

Roy Barnes of the Coliseum Coalition, a group dedicated to preserving the historic building, said the coalition is willing to work with Wiseacre on the plan, although the public will have to decide its worth.

“Without a doubt, this is further evidence that the building is a viable part of Memphis’ future,” the coalition said in a release.

But, Barnes added, many people still want the city to explore repurposing the Coliseum as an arena, despite a non-compete clause between the city and FedExForum.

“We think the public has spoken, and generally they want an arena,” he said.

Smith opened his presentation to the council’s executive committee by saying that moving forward with Wiseacre’s plan would mean giving up those hopes because the Coliseum’s seats would have to be removed.

“If this were to happen, there would never be another concert in the Mid-South Coliseum again,” he said. “There would never be a graduation.”

Council chairman Kemp Conrad said developers weren’t “lining up at the door” to take responsibility for the building, despite Mayor Jim Strickland allowing private inspections of the building in June.

“To me, it sounds pretty exciting, and a great reuse of the building,” Conrad said.

Strickland has said he would entertain any ideas for the property, but that no city money would be available for a redevelopment.

The council didn’t vote on any items related to the Wiseacre plan Tuesday, but the city will report back to council after investigating the idea’s feasibility.

City Chief Operations Officer Doug McGowen was at a conference in Detroit and couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.