When the Biloxi City Council voted last week to seek an economic analysis on the potential impact of a downtown stadium, Councilmember Paul Tisdale said he hoped the study would be “sooner rather than later.”
Tisdale and his fellow councilmembers are getting their wish.
Johnson Consulting, a firm that has worked in Biloxi and advised several cities about the impact of minor league baseball, could present its report about the potential of a baseball stadium in downtown Biloxi as early as Tuesday.
Ron Peresich, an attorney representing the city, has notified councilmembers that the Chicago-based firm expects to actually have the study Monday and will make a presentation at Tuesday’s council meeting, which begins at 1:30 p.m. at City Hall.
The firm has worked for the Biloxi Housing Authority and had previously researched the downtown Biloxi area. Additionally, Johnson has studied the potential of minor league baseball in the City of Ocala, and the counties of Osceola and Brevard, all in Florida; Lee’s Summit, Mo.; and Jackson, Miss.
Biloxi will spend $25,000 for the study, which would help councilmembers determine the potential benefit of the city borrowing $21 million to fund the construction of a $35 million stadium at a Beau Rivage-owned site north of U.S. 90 at Caillavet Street. Councilmembers also want the report to show how much additional development the stadium would drive to downtown Biloxi and along Caillavet Street.
The company: To read information about Johnson Consulting, click here.
The contract:
To see a copy of the Johnson Consulting contract with the City of Biloxi, click here.
More on the issue of minor league baseball
Background: To see Gov. Phil Bryant’s May 30 announcement about the proposed baseball stadium, along with comments by Mayor Holloway and renderings of the proposed stadium,
click here.
The study: To see the Aug. 6 story about the council’s request for the economic analysis of a downtown stadium, click here.
The intent to borrow: To see the measure passed by the previous City Council, in June, which expressed the city’s intent to borrow $21 million to help fund the cosntruction of a $35 million stadium, click here.
Redeemer to host Camille memorial service Saturday afternoon
The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer will host its annual Camille memorial service on Saturday, Aug. 17 at 3 p.m. at the Camille memorial.
The memorial is at 610 Water Street, off U.S. 90 at Bellman Street.
Camille site: To see information on Camille, from a mini-website the city created pre-Katrina, click here.
Meet the teams, see the movie Sunday
The Biloxi football program will host a Meet the Teams night on Sunday, Aug. 18 at 5 p.m. at the Biloxi Junior High School auditorium, and those attending will be able to see the premiere of the movie “Mississippi Gridiron Gold: Small Towns, Big Teams.”
The evening will have an admission fee of $8, with tickets available at the door or in advance from coaches or parents of players, or at the high school athletic office.
Coaches and players from the 7th, 8th, 9th, junior varsity and varsity football teams will be on hand to meet and greet those attending.
Flyer: To print a flyer about meet the teams night, click here.
Hiller Park ceremony today will honor Burdine
The gazebo fronting the Back Bay at Hiller Park will get a plaque honoring Jerry Burdine, the man who used scrap wood to rebuild it after Hurricane Camille.
Councilmember Dixie Newman will host the ceremony this afternoon at 6 to honor Burdine, a former city employee whose birthday is today.
After the ceremony, refreshments will be served, along with, of course, a birthday cake.
