Ocean Springs Sports Complex beginning to pay dividends

OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- Fifty-two teams from five states converged on the Ocean Springs Sports Complex this weekend for the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) baseball championship.

Those teams represented roughly 800 kids playing on the five baseball fields of the complex, which opened about a year ago.

But it's not the kids who generate the greatest interest from city officials.

It's the adults. With some 800 on hand, it's safe to assume there were probably double that number of family members, coaches and others attending.

When city officials pitched the idea of a 2 percent food & beverage tax to fund a new Public Safety Complex and sports complex, that was one of the key arguments in favor of the proposal -- bringing in large tournaments which in turn would generate new tax dollars for the city.

"That's our goal -- to get people to come here to our community and bring additional tax revenue to the city," said Parks & Leisure Director Geri Straight.

This weekend's tournament was the fourth time the USSSA has brought an event to Ocean Springs, which is sharing hosting duties this weekend with the Gulfport Sports Complex. Another 60 teams are competing there.

"Events like this are huge for us," said Mayor Connie Moran. "That was one of the selling points of the referendum for the food & beverage levy in 2007, that the complex would bring families to Ocean Springs.

"Having these types of events bolsters our ability to bring in hotels, more restaurants -- particularly along the Highway 57 corridor. Water and sewer service has already been extended to that area and we are more than ready to embrace tournaments as an economic driver for Ocean Springs, Gautier and Jackson County."

Those attending had positive reviews for the complex and Ocean Springs.

"It's beautiful," said Eric Kincke of the complex. Kincke was in Ocean Springs to watch his son's team, the Carrollton Boosters from New Orleans, compete.

"Everyone here has been really nice," he said. "The fields are beautiful, the facilities are clean. It's been really nice. We'd love to come back."

Kincke said he and his family were staying at the Comfort Suites near exit 50 and had eaten at Ocean Springs restaurants.

He did mention one negative -- parking. No so much the lack of it, which has been a problem with previous large events at the complex, but with recent heavy rains, the grass parking area was more mud than grass.

"It's a little messy getting to and from your car," he said.

Moran, however, said the city cannot pave that second of the parking area without additional permitting from the U.S. Corps of Engineers. The city agreed to leave that area as green space as part of the permitting process to build the complex on wetlands.

"To pave it we'd have to go through the permitting process again," she said. "Perhaps we could address that at the same time we look at acquiring additional property to increase parking."

Ken Whittington traveled from Natchez to watch his grandson's Mississippi Mudcats team compete. He said they have been to the Ocean Springs complex for a tournament once before.

"It's a nice complex," he said. "A little spread out, but it's real nice."

Underscoring the need for additional hotel rooms in Ocean Springs, Whittington said he and his wife are staying at the Beau Rivage, but added they do eat at Ocean Springs restaurants.

In addition to the increase in sales tax revenues generated by visitors coming to the city for tournaments, the recreation department receives revenue in the form of facility rental fees. For a tournament of this size, Straight said her department receives about $4,000.

"It's no different than renting out the civic center or the community center," she said. "It's revenue to the city."

Moran said she has spoken with Gautier Mayor Gordon Gollott about working together, along with the county, about bringing development to the Highway 57 corridor.

"There needs to be a comprehensive plan for the entire area," she said. "I've talked with Gordon Gollott about this, because it's absolutely essential."

Source: http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/07/ocean_springs_sports_complex_b.html

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