Thousands of college baseball fans will pack Dudy Noble Field this weekend for the NCAA regional tournament, and Starkville’s business owners hope to replicate the turnout in the city’s stores, restaurants and hotels.
Mississippi State University was awarded its first ever national seed in this year’s tournament, and will be joined by California State University at Fullerton, Louisiana Tech and Southeast Missouri State in this weekend’s four-team series. The games will stretch from Friday through Sunday. A Monday game will be played, if needed.
The 2013 Starkville regional drew 61,433 fans to Dudy Noble Field, as MSU emerged from the field of Mercer University, the University of Central Arkansas and the University of South Alabama and went on to challenge the University of California, Los Angeles for the NCAA title in Omaha, Nebraska.
MSU Senior Associate Athletic Director Mike Richey said he expects similar crowds in Starkville for the weekend series.
“With MSU being ranked what they are and the tradition of college baseball we have, it wouldn’t surprise me,” he said. “It’s a novelty a lot of people like to see, and it’s different than a home football game weekend. These teams that aren’t regional will bring in folks that might not have been to Mississippi or the Southeast before. It’s an opportunity to show off our town and traditions.”
The chance to draw in MSU supporters and three other schools’ fan bases for extended stays means local businesses have an opportunity to receive visitors for more shopping and dining trips than an average football game weekend produces, Greater Starkville Development Partnership Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Gregory said.
“That means three to four days of staying in hotels, eating in restaurants and shopping downtown and around town, which translates to new dollars for Starkville’s economy,” she said. “We hope fans will visit our farmers’ market Saturday morning and really immerse themselves in our community.”
Traditional sales tax receipts increase during large tourism events, and Starkville feels additional benefits through its 2 percent food, beverage and hotel tax for every meal and drink ordered and each booked hotel room.
John Jackovic, the general manager of Hilton Garden Inn Starkville, said open rooms are at premium at his hotel this weekend. Jackovic worked at hotel during 2013’s regional tournament.
“Rooms went early and fast then, and we were at full capacity the whole time. It was great for us then, but it will be even better this year with our national seed,” he said. “The whole thing is great for the city. Opportunities like this, whether they’re from football, basketball or baseball, really help the community as a whole. The restaurants do well, shopping does well and even the grocery stores do well, because of how busy the Left Field Lounge will be.”
Mississippi lawmakers passed a bill 20 years ago allowing Starkville to impose a 2 percent economic development, tourism and convention tax on the gross revenue of restaurants derived from the sale of prepared food and beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Residents would go on to approve the tax in a referendum.
Those tax receipts are divided between Starkville Parks and Recreation (40 percent), MSU student groups (20 percent), Oktibbeha County Economic Development Authority (15 percent) and Starkville Convention and Visitors Bureau (15 percent). The remaining 10 percent returns to the city.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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