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Keesler Federal Park

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Coordinates: 30°23′45″N 88°53′36″W / 30.395741°N 88.893463°W / 30.395741; -88.893463
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"MGM Park" redirects here. For the casino in Las Vegas, see Park MGM.
Keesler Federal Park
The entrance to MGM Park in 2018
Map
Former namesCaillavet Park (planning)
MGM Park (2015–2023)[1]
Location105 Caillavet Street
Biloxi, Mississippi
United States
Coordinates30°23′45″N 88°53′36″W / 30.395741°N 88.893463°W / 30.395741; -88.893463
Public transitBus interchange CTA
OwnerCity of Biloxi
OperatorBiloxi Baseball
Capacity6,067[3]
Record attendance6,231 (July 3, 2015; Biloxi Shuckers vs. Mississippi Braves)[8]
Field sizeLeft field: 325 ft (99 m)
Left-center field: 350 ft (110 m)
Center field: 401 ft (122 m)
Right-center field: 350 ft (110 m)
Right field: 325 ft (99 m)[3]
SurfaceBermuda Tifway 419 grass[3]
Construction
Broke groundJanuary 23, 2014[2]
OpenedJune 6, 2015
Construction cost$36 million
($46.3 million in 2023 dollars[4])
ArchitectDale Partners Architects P. A.[5]
Structural engineerJoe DeReuil Associates, LLC[6]
General contractorW. G. Yates & Sons[7]
Tenants
Biloxi Shuckers (SL/DAS) 2015–present

Keesler Federal Park, formerly known as MGM Park, is a baseball park in Biloxi, Mississippi. The home of the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers of the Southern League, it opened on June 6, 2015, and can seat up to 6,067 people. The stadium was the site of the 2019 Southern League All-Star Game. Though primarily a venue for Minor League Baseball, it has been the home of the Conference USA baseball tournament since 2017. Concerts have also been held at the venue.

Planning and construction

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A ballpark in the distance behind a tan concrete parking garage
The ballpark as seen from beyond the right field parking garage

In January 2014, Ken Young purchased a majority interest in the Huntsville Stars, a Double-A Minor League Baseball team of the Southern League. The franchise relocated from Huntsville, Alabama to Biloxi, Mississippi, after the 2014 season.[9][10] Upon arrival in Mississippi, the team would become known as the Biloxi Shuckers in reference to the city's oyster industry and seafood heritage.[11]

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on January 23, 2014, before the Biloxi City Council approved the project's construction. Their final approval came on May 9, 2014, when they voted unanimously, without public discussion, to cancel its project management contract with Yates Construction.[12] Because of this, the expected completion date of the ballpark was pushed from April 2015 to May 17, 2015.[13] The city had decided to "separately bid each phase" of construction "rather than drafting specifications for the entire project", but the council instead would "bid the entire project".[12] Yates Construction was awarded the new contract via a 5–2 vote by the Biloxi City Council on July 22, 2014.

MGM Resorts International purchased the naming rights to the stadium in September 2014 for a period of 20 years, naming it MGM Park.[14] The Beau Rivage relinquished naming rights to the City of Biloxi on May 31, 2023.[15] Keesler Federal Credit Union won the naming rights for the ballpark in April 2024, and the facility became known as Keesler Federal Park.[16] The official ribbon cutting for Keesler Federal Park happened on September 15, 2024.[17]

Tenants and events

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Minor League Baseball

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Due to construction delays, the Shuckers played the first 54 games of their inaugural 2015 season on the road.[18] The team's MGM Park home opener was played on June 6, 2015, versus the Mobile BayBears, a 4–3 victory.[19] Going into extra innings, Nick Shaw singled home Brent Suter from second base in the bottom of the fourteenth inning to secure the win.[19] The inaugural home opener was attended by 5,065 people.[8] The stadium's single-game attendance record was set later that season when 6,231 people saw Biloxi defeated by the Mississippi Braves, 4–3, on July 3.[8]

On April 2, 2016, the ballpark was the site of an exhibition game between the Shuckers and their Major League Baseball (MLB) affiliate, the Milwaukee Brewers. Players appearing for the Brewers in the game included Ryan Braun, Domingo Santana, Jonathan Villar, Martín Maldonado, and Chase Anderson.[20] The 7–4 Milwaukee win was attended by 5,152 people.[20] This was the first time a major league team played in Biloxi since the 1938 Philadelphia Phillies held spring training at Biloxi Stadium.[21][22]

Shuckers pitchers threw the first no-hitter in franchise history on August 14, 2017, at MGM Park.[23] Hiram Burgos (2 IP), Forrest Snow (3 IP), Nick Ramirez (1 IP), and Jorge López (1 IP) combined for the effort in the second game of a seven-inning doubleheader against the Tennessee Smokies, a 1–0 win.[24]

MGM Park hosted the Southern League All-Star Game on June 18, 2019. The North Division All-Stars defeated the South Division All-Stars, 7–3, with 4,209 people on hand.[25] Luis Robert of the Birmingham Barons was selected as the game's Most Valuable Player.[26] Jeffrey Baez of the Jackson Generals won the previous day's Home Run Derby.[26]

College baseball

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The Conference USA baseball tournament was held at MGM Park from 2017 to 2019. The 2020 tournament was to be held at MGM park but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament moved to Ruston, Louisiana, in 2021 and the locations will vary going forward.[27]

Features

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The stadium layout is organized around the concourse level that wraps around the field and includes concessions, a lounge and a team store. The majority of the seating is located below the concourse level with 12 suites situated above the concourse.[6]

References

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Specific
  1. ^ "Beau Rivage relinquishes naming rights of MGM Park to City of Biloxi", WXXV News 25, May 31, 2023, retrieved April 4, 2024
  2. ^ Stephenson, Creg (January 23, 2014). "Baseball: Ground Broken for New Biloxi Minor League Stadium, Which Will Be Named MGM Park". Gulf Live. Advance Local Media. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Biloxi Shuckers Media Guide 2019, p. 12.
  4. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  5. ^ "MGM Park, Biloxi, Mississippi". Dale Partners Architects P. A. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  6. ^ a b "Projects: Unique Structures". Joe DeReuil Associates, LLC. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  7. ^ Perez, Mary (July 22, 2014). "Biloxi Stadium Construction Could Start in a Week". Sun Herald. Biloxi. Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  8. ^ a b c Biloxi Shuckers Media Guide 2019, p. 99.
  9. ^ Reichard, Kevin (January 11, 2014). "It's Official: Huntsville Stars Sold, Expected to Move to Biloxi in 2015". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  10. ^ McCarter, Mark (January 10, 2014). "Southern League Makes it Official: Huntsville Stars' Sale and Move to Biloxi Approved". The Huntsville Times. Advance Publications. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  11. ^ Doyle, Steve (November 24, 2014). "Baseball on the Half Shell: Huntsville Stars are Now the Biloxi Shuckers". The Huntsville Times. Advance Publications. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  12. ^ a b Lee, Anita (May 9, 2014). "Biloxi Cancels Construction Management Deal, Seeks Contractor for Baseball Stadium". Sun Herald. Archived from the original on May 13, 2014. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  13. ^ Brannan, Jonathan (May 27, 2014). "Biloxi Baseball Stadium Completion Date Pushed Back". MS News Now. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  14. ^ Reichard, Kevin (September 24, 2014). "It's Official: New Biloxi Ballpark to Be MGM Park". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  15. ^ "Beau Rivage relinquishes naming rights of MGM Park to City of Biloxi", WXXV News 25, May 31, 2023, retrieved April 4, 2024
  16. ^ "It's official: Biloxi ballpark gets new name", WLOX, April 29, 2024, retrieved May 19, 2024
  17. ^ McCoskey, Jevan (September 15, 2024). "Biloxi Shuckers unveil new ballpark name as regular season comes to an end". WXXV News 25. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  18. ^ Fleming, David (August 17, 2015). "On the Road Again..." ESPN. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  19. ^ a b Biloxi Shuckers Media Guide 2019, p. 113.
  20. ^ a b "Brewers Defeat Shuckers 7–4 in Saturday Exhibition". WLOX. Gray Media Group. April 2, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  21. ^ "Brewers to Play exhibition in Biloxi on Saturday, April 2". Milwaukee Brewers. Major League Baseball. October 20, 2015. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  22. ^ Biloxi Shuckers Media Guide 2019, p. 136.
  23. ^ Maun, Tyler (August 15, 2017). "Four Shuckers Spin Team's First No-Hitter". Southern League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  24. ^ "Tennessee vs. Biloxi - August 14, 2017". Minor League Baseball. August 14, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  25. ^ "SOU North All-Stars vs. SOU South All-Stars Box Score - 06/18/19". Minor League Baseball. June 18, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  26. ^ a b Vilona, Bill (June 18, 2019). "Robert Puts on Show at All-Star Game". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  27. ^ Magee, Patrick. "The C-USA baseball tournament's run in Biloxi has ended. Here's where it's headed". SunHerald. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
General
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