Should we play a 3 game OOC series at Trustmark Park every year?

[Railin Jemmye]

In addition to our games with USM and Ole Miss there every year, of course. I mean, if the crowds are so big, and Jackson is so full of MSU fans, why not? It's not like we're talking a football game at the ****-hole Vet, TP is a very nice facility. It gets us more exposure down in Jackson as well, possibly bus in some local HS teams to watch. We just had a 19 game homestand, wouldn't hurt to break that up a little, plus I imagine it's a little bit warmer in Jackson so a February game wouldn't hurt too bad. And get us used to playing on a different surface while still being 'home'.

And I still think we should really try to get the SEC Tournament to relocate to TP. But, I suppose the CUSA is better than nothing.

Anybody know what they use Smith-Wills for nowadays?

 

[Arthur2478]

And I still think we should really try to get the SEC Tournament to relocate to TP.

That's never going to happen. Trustmark just doesn't have the capacity to hold the crowds that the tournament draws. Last night the official attendance was less than 7K and that place was packed.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

That's actually not a bad idea as they would count as neutral site games, right? For that matter, I wouldn't mind having a Mississippi versus... series much like the old Louisiana series at the Superdome some 20-odd years ago. The major problem with that of course would be weather related since we get a lot of rain in February.

 

[drt7891]

That's never going to happen. Trustmark just doesn't have the capacity to hold the crowds that the tournament draws. Last night the official attendance was less than 7K and that place was packed.

Auto zone park is over twice the size of Trustmark and the SEC turned them down for a bid this past year. If they won't use Memphis, they surely won't use Jackson.

 

[Railin Jemmye]

Good points, you and Mstatedawg. David Murray always says that the SEC will never leave B'ham because it's just a perfect venue for that event.

 

[Railin Jemmye]

You mean like an MSU/OM vs. say, USC/UCLA? That'd be cool, each team plays the other from the other state twice. So a four game series for MSU and OM, but an 8 game series all around?

 

[Maroon Eagle]

Yes, I'd add USM to the mix since the Eagles have a lot of baseball support (they're in the top 20 attendance wise too) for something like MSU-OM-USM versus USC-UCLA-Fullerton (for example) in single game series.

 

[Railin Jemmye]

I wouldn't even mind seeing a 4 team double elimination tournament (like a regional). Sure, one team might have to play 5 games assuming they came out of the winners bracket, but no big deal. Play 3 games a day on Friday and Saturday with the Ch'ip on Sunday (possibly two games). Then award a trophy. MSU - OM - USM - Valley/JSU/Alcorn.

 

[Xenomorph]

It's early to be having this conversation..

Usually it's May or June when it has to be explained on this board why the SECT will never happen at Trustmark.

 

[Railin Jemmye]

I also want to see a bowl game in Jackson. I guess now I really should face the firing squad, huh?

 

[missouridawg]

You mean like an MSU/OM vs. say, USC/UCLA? That'd be cool, each team plays the other from the other state twice. So a four game series for MSU and OM, but an 8 game series all around?

U of Houston and Rice host a similar event at Minute Maid Park every year. This year, Rice, U of H, UNC, aTm, Baylor, and Cal played 6 games over a weekend. Was a pretty nice event.

 

[Xenomorph]

If they build that stadium, and do it RIGHT...

I could see Jackson making a viable bid to host a bowl game. If Shreveport can do it in that god-awful stadium, well...

But the baseball tournament at Trustmark? ....The SECT is the second best attended college baseball tournament in the country. TMP can't host it.

 

[EurekaDog]

Will the new Regions Field (B'ham) affect the new bid for the tourney?

Will the city of Hoover continue to maintain (to the level required by the SEC) a park for a single big baseball event? Maybe they start hosting some high school baseball events, but I wonder if they'll be able to continually employ a grounds crew that'll be up to par.

 

[patdog]

My guess would be that the SEC baseball tournament will eventually move to the new Regions Field.

 

[beachbumdawg]

My guess would be that the SEC baseball tournament will eventually move to the new Regions Field.

There is zero RV parking near the new park downtown

 

[Xenomorph]

But there sure is a whole bunch of other stuff to do. *

*

 

[Spidey.sixpack]

I would like to see a 3 game weekend series with USM that does Starkville-Pearl-Hattiesburg on a Friday-Saturday-Sunday. Clemson and South Carolina did the same thing this year and last year with Columbia-Greenville-Clemson. Swap the campus sites each year, but keep Pearl on Saturday every season.

 

[RocketDawg]

The stated capacity is only 5500, at least on Wikipedia. That's not big enough for the SEC tournament. But I don't see anything wrong with having a 3 game series there at some point. It's not like you're moving one home game out of six or seven football games. I have no problem with baseball, or even basketball, being played down there on occasion if it gives some fans an opportunity to see the team that would never make the drive to Starkville.

 

[RocketDawg]

Trustmark

Looked the park up on Wikipedia and saw that the capacity is only 5500. Even though it looks really nice, I'm surprised the Southern League would have such a small venue. The one in Huntsville is about 14,000 and Hoover is close to that same size I think.

They're talking about building a new one here, possibly near or in the downtown area. Not sure why they always want them downtown because of parking, or lack of.

 

[GhostOfJackie]

We should do some kind of round robin tournament there, not just a three game series. Get UM and USM involved and throw in a different SWAC school each year. It would be good for the state of Mississippi and to the Jackson area. God knows the Jackson area needs good events like this.

Edit to say: Smith Wells can have some sort of round robin for the smaller schools at the same time. Delta State, Millsaps, Carey, Bellhaven, and MC can play on that field. It can be a state wide baseball jamboree.

 

[Todd4State]

I wish we would

play at least one midweek game a year against the likes of Louisiana Tech, ULM, etc. which is something that we have done before in the past.

Smith-Wills is very active. Belhaven plays their home baseball games there, and then they have high school baseball tournaments, and I know Hinds and Holmes are going to play a doubleheader there in about a month. They also have some baseball showcases, and Veritas uses the stadium as their home football field.

 

[State82]

Trustmark Park has a capacity of 8480 per the Braves site. I thought it was around 7500-7600, but that 5500 figure is incorrect, by quite a bit. Regardless, it couldn't handle the SEC Tourney, but an early season "tourney" with the Mississippi teams hosting teams from another state would be an excellent idea.

 

[State82]

Excellent idea that needs to happen. I guarantee it would draw more than we do early season at DNF, which is a shame. I heard Wyatt/Cross talking early season attendance numbers this week. LSU has averaged just over 10000/game paid so far. That is 3000 over second place. MSU & UM are in the top 5-6 and are very close, but nowhere near LSU. That is unbelievable.

 

[Toby Nash]

From the Braves website, Trustmark capacity is 7319-4th Largest in the Southern League. From the Huntsville Stars website, Joe Davis capacity is 10,488.

Trustmark Park is very nice. It was built in 2005 at a cost of $28M.

 

[Railin Jemmye]

Being in a big city definitely helps.