MGM Park should open in June after the Biloxi Shuckers (Class AA; Southern League) and Overtime Sports pledged at least $925,000 toward construction costs.
The City Council had been confronting last-minute costs for the new ballpark, estimated at approximately $1 million. The city is on the hook for $10,000 in fines for each game the Shuckers will miss. The Shuckers are shifting every April and May series to other ballparks, including a “home” series in Pearl and at least 15 games at Huntsville’s Joe Davis Stadium. The current estimated date for an MGM Park opening: June 6.
And this money should help that June 6 opening date happen. From the Biloxi Sun-Herald:
This action definitely speeds up the timetable to get the stadium open, said Tim Bennett with Overtime Sports and a part-owner of the Biloxi Shuckers. He said it could save months on the original schedule.
The team and Overtime Sports will complete the work by June 1, under the terms of the contract.
In exchange, the city will forgo the $2 surcharge on ticket sales in 2015 and 2016 for the first 231,250 tickets sold. the city will collect the $2 surcharge for the remainder of those seasons.
The agreement means the opening date won’t slip until August — which was a distinct possibility before today’s action.
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