Huntsville’s Joe Davis Stadium to be Demolished

In less than two years, Madison’s (AL) new baseball stadium will be finished.  Meanwhile, Huntsville’s old ballpark Joe Davis Stadium has been vacant for years.  City administrator John Hamilton says the place is likely going to be torn down, it’s just a question of when.  Read more here.

Leaving Baseball Behind at Joe Davis Stadium

Thursday night, the Huntsville (AL) city council members took the first step toward giving Joe Davis Stadium, the former home of the Huntsville Stars (Double-A, Southern League), a new life by approving a study to look into whether the old stadium can become a 10,000-seat entertainment space.  Read more here.

No New Stadium On Deck in Huntsville

A minor league baseball pitch hasn’t been thrown from the mound at Joe Davis Stadium in more than two years, and it doesn’t look like that is going to change any time soon.  Read more and view news report here.

Schuckers to Play at Least 15 Games in Huntsville

As everyone expected, the final departure of minor league baseball from Huntsville (AL) has been delayed, as the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers (Southern League), formerly the Huntsville Stars, will play at least 15 home games at Joe W. Davis Stadium this summer, as work on the new MGM Park in Biloxi (MS) continues.  Read more here.

The Joe Appears Slated for Demolition, Christmas Eve Celebration Brings Joy to the Ballpark

Now that the Double-A Huntsville Stars (Southern League) will be relocating to a new ballpark in Biloxi (MS) as the rebranded Biloxi Shuckers, demolition of 30-year-old Joe Davis Stadium, the current home of the Stars/Shuckers, could occur late in 2015.  The site is the target location for an indoor athletic complex to serve as anchor for the north end of the ongoing John Hunt Park redevelopment.

It’s the ‘Biloxi Shuckers’

The relocating Double-A Huntsville Star (Southern League) will be known as the Biloxi Shuckers when the team begins to play at MGM Park currently under construction in downtown Biloxi (MS).  The team name, logos and uniforms were unveiled at an event Monday evening.  Read more here.

Topping Out Ceremony at MGM Park

A “topping out” ceremony was held at MGM Park on Tuesday signifying that construction of the $36 million stadium has reached its highest point.  Mayor A.J. Holloway signed the steel beam before it was hoisted, along with an American flag and a traditional evergreen tree, to the steel frame at the baseball park.  Read more and view photo here.

Biloxi Baseball to Unveil Branding on Nov. 24

The owners of the new Double-A Southern League franchise relocating to Biloxi (MS) will hold an event on Monday, Nov. 24, to unveil the team’s name, logo and colors.  The big reveal will take place at the Saenger Theatre on Reynoir Street at 5:30 pm.  Read more here. View invitation here.

Nixed Biloxi Ballpark Seating Bays Restored

By a four-to-three vote, the Biloxi (MS) City Council agreed to spend more than $418,000 on four seating bays they originally stripped from the ballpark under construction for the relocating Double-A Huntsville Stars (Southern League).  Read more and watch news report here.

Money-Saving, Cut-From-the-Bluprints Seating May Have to be Restored

As construction has progressed on the new ballpark in Biloxi (MS) for the relocating Double-A Huntsville Stars (Southern League), developers and owners have discovered what could be a mistake in the plans for the $36 million stadium.  Four seating bays that were originally cut from the blueprints to save money may have to be there because of minor league seating requirements.  Read more and watch news report here.

Biloxi Ballpark Construction Update

MGM Stadium, the new Biloxi (MS) home for the relocating Double-A Huntsville Stars (Southern League), is going vertical.  The entrances off Caillavet Street are taking shape.  The home team dugout has already been built, and the first of the steel is being lifted by crane and put in place behind the dugout to support the main structure.  Read more and view photos here.

It’s ‘MGM Park’ for New Biloxi Stadium

Under a 20-year naming rights deal announced Wednesday, the new baseball stadium under construction in downtown Biloxi (MS) for the relocating Double-A Huntsville Stars (Southern League) will officially be called MGM Park.  Read more here and here.

Biloxi Ballpark Rendering, Dale Partners Architects

New Huntsville Ballpark ‘Unlikely’ at Coca-Cola Bottling Plant Site

The nine-acre Coca-Cola bottling plant site at Clinton Avenue in downtown Huntsville (AL), thought to be the top location for a new minor league baseball stadium, reportedly has a buyer.  As you know, the Double-A Huntsville Stars (Southern League) are relocating to a new ballpark under construction in Biloxi (MS).  Read more and watch news report here.

Playing Beat the Clock in Biloxi

With all the delays, the $36 million stadium under construction in Biloxi (MS) for the relocating Double-A Huntsville Stars (Southern League) is slated to be completed by next August, well beyond the start of the 2015 season.  But, there is some level of hope that the stadium could be ready for play before then.  Read more here.

Biloxi Ballpark Update

Construction has begun at the site of the future baseball stadium in Biloxi (MS) for the relocating Double-A Huntsville Stars (Southern League), but it’s still in the beginning stages and hasn’t quite taken the familiar diamond shape of a baseball field yet.  On Tuesday, Yates Construction updated the city council on where the project stands at this juncture.  Read more here.

Biloxi Ballpark Rendering, Dale Partners Architects

 

Biloxi Council Approves Ballpark Construction Bid

Construction of the new MGM Ballpark in Biloxi (MS) for the relocating Double-A Huntsville Stars (Southern League) could get underway as soon as mid August, as the city council approved a trimmed-down construction bid Tuesday.  Read more here and here.

Biloxi Ballpark Budget Trimmed, Time to Move Ahead

The City of Biloxi (MS) has trimmed enough off of the cost of the planned minor league baseball stadium that it is now ready to move forward with construction, according to a release from the city Friday.  Read more here.

Biloxi Ballpark Bids Come in Over Budget, Name-the-Team Contest Ends, Huntsville Wants New Team

Biloxi (MS) city officials learned Wednesday that the lowest contractor bid for a new stadium was at $32.27 million, some $5 million more than the initial budget.  This could keep the team in Huntsville (AL) for the 2015 season.  Read more here.  Meanwhile, Biloxi Baseball’s name-the-team contest has eneded with 60,000 votes.  Read more here.  Meanwhile Huntsville wants new team.  Read more here.

Time to Build in Biloxi, Construction Bids Will be Opened Wednesday

Bids will be opened Wednesday for construction of the minor league baseball stadium in downtown Biloxi (MS) for the relocating Double-A Huntsville Stars (Southern League).  Over the next nine months, South Mississippi will be witness to the birth of the stadium and a team.  Read more here.

Ballpark Visit ALERT: (A Goodbye to) Joe Davis Stadium (Huntsville, AL)

MLB.com reporter Benjamin Hill recently visited Joe Davis Stadium, home of the Biloxi (MS)-bound Double-A Huntsville Stars (Southern League).  Read more and view photos here

Biloxi Enters Final Phase of Name the Team Contest

The name-the-team contest for the Double-A Huntsville Stars (Southern League) relocating to Biloxi (MS) is down to six finalists announced on June 2, including the Beacon, Black Jacks, Mullets, Schooners, Shrimpers or Shuckers.  The voting continues for another week at BaseballBiloxi.com.  Read more here and here.

Biloxi Team Owners Not Too Concerned About Ballpark Delay

Despite architects’ estimates that the new Biloxi minor league baseball stadium would not be ready until more than a month into the 2015 season, team part-owner Tim Bennett said Thursday the project has not reached the “worrisome” stage.  Read more here.

Biloxi Ballpark Opening Pushed Back from April to May

The Biloxi (MS) City Council learned Tuesday that construction of the MGM Ballpark at Beau Rivage could be running behind schedule.  The city anticipates a substantial completion date of May 17, 2015.  Read more and watch news report here.  Read more here.

Biloxi Ditches Ballpark Construction Manager, Will Seek Bids for General Contractor

There was a major change on Friday involving the new baseball stadium in Biloxi (MS) being built for the relocating Double-A Huntsville Stars (Southern League).  Convinced it will save time and money, the city council voted in a special session to do away with the construction manager approach and take bids for a general contractor instead.  Read more here.

Team Biloxi Names GM, Launches Name the Team Contest

Buck Rogers, an 18-year Minor League Baseball executive, has been named the first General Manager in the history of the Biloxi Baseball Club.  The announcement was made today by team president Ken Young at a press conference held at the Biloxi Visitors Center.  Read more here.  Meanwhile, the team launched a Name The Team Contest starting at 12:01 a.m. Thursday morning.  Click below to submit your entry:

Huntsville Councilman: Stars Violating Maintenance Provisions of Ballpark Lease

Huntsville City Councilman Bill Kling is raising concerns over maintenance at Joe Davis Stadium just weeks before the Biloxi-bound Double-A Huntsville Stars (Southern League) begin their final season in the Rocket City.  He says the Stars have not lived up to their lease agreement at the ballpark, which specifies that the team maintain the scoreboard and public address system.  Read more here.

Biloxi Council Votes to Finance Baseball Stadium

The standing-room-only crowd at City Hall cheered when the Biloxi (MS) City Council closed the meeting Tuesday after voting 5-2 to issue a $21 million bond to build a new downtown stadium for the relocating Double-A Huntsville Stars (Southern League).  Read more here.

Biloxi Ballpark Rendering, Dale Partners Architects

Vote on New Biloxi Ballpark Delayed

The Biloxi (MS) City Council likely won’t decide Tuesday night whether to issue a $21 million bond to build a downtown baseball stadium for the relocating Double-A Huntsville Stars (Southern League), as one of the council members is on duty with the National Guard and unavailable.  The vote on the bond, hiring the architect and three other baseball resolutions will likely be scheduled for early next week.  Read more here.

Biloxi Ballpark Vote Next Tuesday

The Biloxi (MS) Council is expected to vote next Tuesday whether to issue $21 million in bonds to build a minor league baseball stadium for the relocating Double-A Huntsville Stars (Southern League).  Read more here.

Biloxi Ballpark Rendering, Dale Partners Architects

Biloxi Celebrates New Ballpark with Groundbreaking Ceremony

Several hundred baseball fans turned out Thursday afternoon for the ceremonial groundbreaking of the new downtown Biloxi (MS) baseball stadium for the relocating Double-A Huntsville Stars (Southern League).  Read more and watch news report here.

Biloxi Ballpark Rendering, Dale Partners Architects

Biloxi Ballpark Groundbreaking Next Week

The groundbreaking for the new downtown Biloxi (MS) ballpark for the relocating Double-A Huntsville Stars (Southern League) is set for Thursday, Jan. 23, at 2 p.m.  Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant is expected to be on hand for the ceremony.  Read more here.

Biloxi Ballpark Rendering, Dale Partners Architects

Southern League Approves Sale of Stars

The Double-A Southern League announced Friday that it has approved the sale of the Huntsville Stars, which are slated to move to a new downtown ballpark in Biloxi (MS) in 2015.  The franchise is being sold by a group led by Miles Prentice to a group led by Ken Young.  The sale must also be approved by both Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball to be final.  Read more here.

Huntsville Stars Allowed to Move to Biloxi

The 10 team owners from the Double-A Southern League reportedly voted Wednesday to allow the sale and relocation of the Huntsville Stars to the developing new ballpark in downtown Biloxi (MS).  Read more and view news report here.

Biloxi Delays Ballpark Vote, Huntsville Stars Targeted

The Biloxi City Council has delayed a vote on a new minor league baseball stadium while those working to bring a team to the city are in Orlando at the Major League Baseball’s winter meetings.  Read more here.  Miles Prentice, majority owner of Double-A Huntsville Stars (Southern League), has reportedly been in negotiations with Ken Young, who wants to buy and move the team to Biloxi.  Read more here

Newspaper Poll Shows Support for New Downtown Huntsville Ballpark

In an unscientific online poll on AL.com, the largest block of voters selected a new downtown ballpark as their top choice to replace the soon-to-be-closed Holiday Inn across from Big Spring International Park.  The city, which owns the land, plans to solicit redevelopment proposals next spring.  Read more here.

Biloxi Ballpark Plan Approved!

The Biloxi (MS) City Council on Tuesday voted 5-2 to approve a ballpark financing package that will bring a yet-to-be-named Double-A Southern League team to downtown.  Read more here.  One writer speculates about the franchise relocating to Biloxi.  The Huntsville Stars top the list.  Read more here.

Mixed-Use Facility Makes Most Sense for Downtown Huntsville

Chad Emerson, the new CEO of Downtown Huntsville, Inc., says that a proposed new downtown Huntsville (AL) ballpark for the Double-A Huntsville Stars (Southern League) should be a mixed-use facility.  Read more here

Huntsville Calls On Birmingham

The Double-A Birmingham Barons (Southern League) recently hosted a delegation from Huntsville (AL) led by Mayor Tommy Battle to give them a tasty look at the new Regions Field.  The mayor is exploring the possibility of a downtown replacement for outdated Joe Davis Stadium, home of the Double-A Huntsville Stars (Southern League).  Read more here and here.

No Hope for Huntsville?

While Birmingham (AL) basks in the glory of a brand new ballpark, Huntsville (AL) slogs along with 1980s  relic Joe Davis Memorial Stadium, home of the Double-A Huntsville Stars (Southern League).  The facility (being careful not to call it a ballpark) sits in Huntsville Councilman Bill Kling‘s district, and he appears to have no stomach for replacing it.  Without major improvements to The Joe

Ballpark Visit ALERT: Joe W. Davis Municipal Stadium (Huntsville, AL)

Eric and Wendy Pastore from DigitalBallparks.com visit Joe W. Davis Municipal Stadium, home of the Double-A Huntsville Stars (Southern League).  Read more and view photos here.