With the opening of 2016 NFL training camps looming, the New Orleans Saints and Saints Hall of Fame will make a special visit to Biloxi July 8-9 for a weekend of activities on the eve of the team’s summer camp. The highlight of the weekend will be two special events at MGM Park on Saturday, July 9.
The Saints Scramble Golf Tournament, presented at Fallen Oak Golf Club by C Spire and Beau Rivage, will kick off two days of events at noon on Friday, July 8. A three-hour kids training camp, the Saints Experience, will be staged at MGM Park starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 9. And the premier event, the first-ever Saints Hall of Fame Road Show, will be held inside the stadium starting at 6 p.m. It will feature at least two dozen Saints Hall of Famers and current players and coaches, along with the first ever traveling exhibit of Saints memorabilia including the team’s Super Bowl Lombardi Trophy.
Among current players invited to participate are Mark Ingram, Cam Jordan, Zach Strieff, Ole Miss star Jamarca Sanford, and breakout cornerback Delvin Breaux, the New Orleans native who recovered from a broken neck to make it to his hometown Saints. Hall of Famers invited include Rickey Jackson, Archie Manning, Morten Andersen, Bobby Hebert, Joe Horn, Deuce McAllister, Dalton Hillyard and Jim Mora.
“This is going to be a spectacular weekend for Saints fans across the Coast,” said Biloxi Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich. “The Saints used to bring preseason caravans through the area years ago, but haven’t been on the Coast for more than a dozen years. This is their opportunity to reconnect with their loyal fan base on the Coast, and our opportunity to share memories with many of our favorite Saints players from years past. I’m sure the Saints Nation on the Coast will turn out in force to show support for its favorite NFL team.”
The Biloxi weekend marks the first time the Saints Hall of Fame has gone on the road. Exhibits will be positioned on the stadium concourse and past and current players and coaches will sign autographs, pose for photos and discuss the memorabilia on display.
Additionally, a silent auction will be set up, featuring autographed jerseys, helmets, footballs and other team gear. The most unique auction item is a specially commissioned Saints guitar created by New Orleans natives Johny Indovina and Michael Ciravolo, whose artistry is treasured by many of the nation’s premier musicians.
“Saints weekend is part of our plan to better utilize MGM Park for the benefit of Biloxi and the Mississippi Coast,” Gilich added. “We’ve been working on creating unique events that have broad appeal. The Saints are a natural draw here. We expect big crowds in the stadium.”
Saints Hall of Fame golf: Playing spots in the Scramble Golf Tournament are limited to the first 22 teams registered. The entry fee is $1,000 per four-member team. Each team will also be assigned a Saints Hall of Famer or a current Saints player or coach to round out five-man teams for the 18-hole tournament at Beau Rivage’s spectacular Fallen Oak Golf Club. Teams can enter by calling Main Street Biloxi at 228-435-6370.
Kids Saints Experience tickets: Participation in the Kids Saints Experience Saturday morning will be limited to 500 participants at each of two 75-minute sessions. Admission for the Kids Saints Experience is $10 for participants age 6-15 and $15 for adults. Tickets for the Saints Hall of Fame event that evening are $20 adults and $10 children ages 12-under. Tickets for both stadium events will go on sale soon at the MGM Park box office.
