PERKINSTON, Miss.–You’ve heard a lot about delays getting the new MGM Park open for the Biloxi Shuckers to play in 2015. Once it does open, it will become the home not only to the new Gulf Coast team, but also to the Miss. Gulf Coast Community College Bulldogs, but just for 2016.
The school’s website said that the team will also be getting a new stadium at Ken “Curly” Farris Field.
“We are thrilled about partnering with the Biloxi Shuckers,” said Dr. Mary S. Graham, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College president, in a news release. “The opportunity for our college team to play in a professional baseball stadium while our baseball complex is being renovated is tremendous! We hope to use the opportunity to fully engage our alumni, fans and parents.”
MGM Park is being built for the city of Biloxi by Yates Construction. The 6,067-seat stadium designed by Dale Partners Architects P.A. of Biloxi will open this summer. It is located at the corner of U.S. Highway 90 and Interstate 110. The Shuckers, the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, will be the primary tenant.
“Depending on where you are in the stadium, you’re what, a 3 wood from the water” commented Richard Cross on Head to Head Radio.
“The partnership that we are embarking on today between Overtime Sports and MGCCC captures everything we always hoped for when envisioning the building of MGM Park in Biloxi,” said Tim Bennett, president of Overtime Sports and vice president of the Biloxi Shuckers. “Having the Bulldogs play their entire home season in 2016 here, while building and renovating their ballpark, shows the power of our belief in ‘One Coast’ and the good that comes from all communities along the Gulf Coast working together. We look forward to hosting these and numerous other community events in the future.”
Gulf Coast will be building a new baseball and softball grandstand around Farris Field and Ross-Smith Field on the Perkinston Campus. In the interim, the Bulldogs are looking forward to playing at a professional stadium.
“I think it’s going to be great for our guys,” Gulf Coast coach Rodney Batts said. “They’ll be excited about playing in a minor league ballpark and excited about our ballpark here. If we can’t play on campus, I don’t know of a better venue for our home games.”
