All the Right Plays

Containing Hancock, Harrison and Jackson Counties, which together span 12 cities, Coastal Mississippi offers an ideal setting for a wide variety of sporting events, conventions and leisure pursuits. The region is unique and versatile, boasting a temperate climate, 62 miles of shoreline (including 26 miles of beaches), excellent indoor and outdoor sports venues, plus delicious gulf to shore dining, shopping, family entertainment, local theaters and casinos.
 

“Sports tourism in Coastal Mississippi is an exciting and growing sector, offering a unique blend of professional sporting teams, top-tier youth and adult sports facilities, and leisure sports,” says Coastal Mississippi Marketing Director Kendra Simpson. “‘Play Coastal Mississippi’ embodies the region’s commitment to providing exceptional sporting experiences, from competitive events to recreational activities. With its diverse offerings and welcoming community, Coastal Mississippi is the ultimate destination for athletes and sports enthusiasts alike.” She adds that the locale’s “play” tagline, in all its forms, translates into having fun and having memorable experiences. “People can play here in all sorts of ways; it encompasses everything we do here.”
 

Fields of Play

Coastal Mississippi offers a variety of venues designed to handle sports competitions. The largest outdoor facility on the Coast is the Gulfport Sportsplex which boasts 15 diamond fields along with six soccer fields that can also accommodate tackle and flag football. The site sits on 250 acres and includes wetlands that can be built on and utilized for additional sports fields and sporting attractions. The Gulf Islands Water Park is also onsite (under separate management) and is a big attraction, notes Gulfport Sportsplex General Manager Marquez Singleton.
 

“The Gulfport Sportsplex operates year-round and hosts more than 60 diamond sports events annually. We’ve hosted tournaments with 150-plus teams, and each typically attracts 7,000 to 8,000 athletes and spectators, and we can accommodate 10,000 people for all 15 diamond fields,” says Singleton. He points out that four major soccer events are also held each year, and other sports such as lacrosse, field hockey and kickball could soon join the roster. The addition of a pavilion for amateur boxing is also under consideration.
 

Attracting youth sports is a key focus, and Singleton reports that youth events comprise 95 percent of the venue’s business. “We also host the Southwestern Athletic Conference NCAA Division I softball tournament in May of each year, and it’s great for people to see softball played at such a high level. We’d like to host more collegiate events like that,” says Singleton. “We also host some adult slow pitch softball events.”
 

Currently, two turf diamond fields are on offer, and the plan is to eventually turf all of the fields. “This would allow us to attract more teams from farther away. Right now, we attract regional teams within a two- to three-hour drive. With 15 turf fields, we could expand our reach to teams within a five- to six-hour drive or arrival by plane,” Singleton explains. “With our location just off of I-10, we are easily accessible by car and plane. The Sportsplex brings in a lot of clientele for all our attractions, and visitors to the Sportsplex can utilize everything that Coastal Mississippi has to offer.”
 

Other venues on tap include the Pascagoula Sports Complex and the Jackson County Soccer Complex. The Pascagoula Sports Complex features four baseball fields including a turf championship field, three softball fields, two tee-ball fields, batting cages, shaded bleachers, meeting rooms and two concession stands. The 25-acre Jackson County Soccer Complex provides 21 fields of varying sizes, a large concession building and covered shade structures.
 

New Ways to Play

As the national sports tourism industry continues to grow (with 209.4 million sports travelers having spent $52.5 billion on transportation, lodging and food and beverages in 2023, according to Sports ETA), Coastal Mississippi is determined to capture a bigger piece of the pie. Toward this end, new sports facilities will soon be coming online.
 

The current Hancock County Multi-Purpose Arena is situated on 80 acres of open and wooded fields, and currently hosts rodeos, livestock shows, barrel racing competitions, sports motor cross, dog shows, food and music festivals and the annual Hancock County Fair. The venue is about to undergo a major transformation with the addition of a new 86,000-square-foot enclosed arena that will attract different types of events, from equine to festivals.
 

“We’re hoping to start construction on October 1, and it will be a $22 million project,” says Scotty Adam, Board President, Hancock County Board of Supervisors. “The new arena will be fully enclosed and will be able to host all sorts of equine events as well as other events such as concerts. There will be a covered practice area and an additional 40,000-square-foot barn to provide more stall space for the equine events. We’ll be adding more campsites and plenty of RV hook-ups to the area, too.”
 

Adam notes that the current arena, which just has a roof and partial walls, will remain as a practice and warm-up facility for the new arena. “We’re located between Florida and Texas, two of the biggest equine locales in the U.S., and we’re hoping that the new arena will attract some of the bigger shows that travel around the country. Hancock County wants to provide a venue that attracts national events, not just regional ones.”
 

Meanwhile, pickleball has been the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. for three consecutive years and it’s no surprise that Coastal Mississippi wants in on the action. A new 14-court indoor facility will open in Biloxi in October 2024. The project comes courtesy of Picklr, a Utah-based company that franchises indoor pickleball courts and clubs, and is partnered with Pickleball Inc. and former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. Amenities will include a ball machine, pro shop, private event areas and locker rooms.
 

In Ocean Springs, a new P360 Performance Sports Complex broke ground in June. Through the Snopek Baseball Group and Mississippi Matrix Volleyball, the 32,000-square-foot complex will showcase batting cages, pitching mounds, four volleyball courts, plus a dedicated fitness and training area. Construction is set to start in early fall and the doors are slated to open in early 2025.
 

Non-Traditional Play

While hosting traditional sports is great for business, Coastal Mississippi also prides itself on its ability to attract non-traditional events such as equestrian, fishing, kayaking and sailing. In fact, the region’s climate and geographical location make it ideal for sailing competitions.
 

“The Gulf Yachting Association includes 26 yacht clubs spanning the Gulf from Houston to Tampa, and there’s always an event,” says John F. Dane, program manager at United States Marine, Inc. “The water is warm so sailing is year-round. We have day races and distance races; whatever type of sailing you’re into, you can find it here.” In fact, the competition is world class: the Gulf Yachting Association has produced eight Olympic gold medalists and 20 to 30 Olympians.
 

Adding to the appeal, the sailing events held in Coastal Mississippi are spectator-friendly, too. “It’s easy to watch races here. We sail right in front of the clubs — no long sail or tow out [to the course]. You can watch most races from the club’s front porch,” Dane remarks. “Also, if you bring a spectator boat, most clubs have free dock and launch for the weekend.”
 

With so many sports venues, activities and amenities available, it’s hard to beat the allure of Coastal Mississippi.
 

“We have everything from seas to fields to horse facilities,” exclaims Paige Roberts, President and CEO, Jackson County Chamber. “The draw is the hospitality. You won’t leave hungry and you’ll have a smile on your face the whole time you’re here. We have a lot to offer families and athletes. We’re in it to win it!” SDM