After 59 days, the Shuckers road trip is finally over

Last night, after being on the road for 59 days and 54 games, the Biloxi Shuckers could finally play their first home game.
MGM Park opened it’s doors after a delay of about three months.

The stadium is still not complete, but it is safe to host players and fans.

Two weeks ago it was announced that June 6 as home opener date wasn’t going to be reached and that the grand opening of MGM Park was going to be postponed. But Shuckers owner, the city of Biloxi and construction company Yates Construction struck a deal one day after the news of the postponement of the opening was announced.

So it is finally here. A film crew of ESPN was around to interview Sun Herald reporter Mary Perez on Friday at the White House Hotel on her nine-year coverage of the quest to build a stadium and bring a team to Biloxi.The city of Biloxi hired current co-owner Tim Bennett in 2004 to lure a team to Biloxi and to have a stadium built. But with hurricane Katrina, the BP oil spil and the economic recession, the chances of a new stadium and a new team looked bleak.
After a long search, Bennett and his partner bought the agonizing Huntsville Stars and brought them to Biloxi.

After eleven years Biloxi has it’s minor league team and the team finally got it’s home.

The Shuckers christened their new ballpark with a fourteen inning victory over the Mobile BayBears.

Here are some impressions of the grand opening of MGM Park. Photos by the Sun Herald

A young happy fan

Fans are eagerly waiting for the gates to open

Players and fans enter the new stadium

Players take their time for a signature session