Gulfport Sportsplex expansion on track

The Gulfport Sportsplex is now moving in to phase two of construction, branching further north of the existing facility. We take you to the sidelines for an update on the project and show you why city leaders believe this investment will draw in even bigger crowds and revenue for South Mississippi.
Overcast weather didn’t stop these young kids from showing off some fancy footwork at the Gulfport Sportsplex. Freshly laid dirt nearby is a clear signal that phase two of the expansion project is right on target and one step closer toward the overall goal to complete all three phases in the spring of next year. Sportsplex Manager Rusty Ramage said, “They’re cutting out the field dirt to put up the retaining walls because at ground level, you’re four feet above the actual playing surface. That’s what they’re doing right now and putting drainage systems in.”
Once completed, this facility will be one of the largest sports complexes in the southern region with all the bells and whistles. “All fields are all LED lighting. Most of our restroom facilities have the finer tile and a number of toilets for women. We’ll have a large pavilion concession operation, a pavilion large enough to accommodate probably 300 people,” said Ramage.
Part of the expansion even incorporates safety for the players. Instead of a chain link fence, a safety mesh will be installed in the turf complex, ensuring that when a player runs into the fence, even at full speed, they won’t make contact with the sports posts. “We’re looking for a facility that’s going to be first class. It’s going to have a lot of amenities other facilities don’t have and we want our customers, players, coaches, and parents to leave with a wow factor,” said Ramage.
The six added fields ring in at a total of 15 fields for the sportsplex including two stadium football fields that will double as soccer fields, expected to bring in between 50 to 60 more teams every weekend, netting even more dollars for the Coast. Leisure Services Marketing Manager Jase Payne said, “That just affects the whole city and north Gulfport so much with the restaurants, the hotels, the expansion is just going to make those numbers grow even larger to the point where we expect to exceed over 100 thousand people over the next couple of years.”
The sportsplex is currently looking for community sponsors. For any questions on tournaments, the expansion, or becoming a sponsor you can visit gptsportsplex.com.