Sports Attractions in Mississippi

Mississippi packs a punch with its unique assortment of state-of-the-art facilities and sprawling sports complexes

By Billy Stampfl

Mississippi is a popular sports destination, an elite locale for those who love competition and pageantry. It also offers attractions for in-between games or after thrilling matches, like the Delta Blues Museum, Vicksburg National Military Park, and the Gulf Islands National Seashore. These places give visitors lots to do over weekends in Mississippi, where sports fans enjoy learning about culture and history as they take in the wonders of the South.

But beyond exciting attractions and top-notch destinations, Mississippi is special because it hosts diverse sporting events and boasts some of the most exceptional facilities the South has to offer. From Starkville to DeSoto County, from Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg to Liberty Park in Flowood, the Magnolia State has everything sports fans want.

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Starkville MS for Sports

Our tour through Mississippi’s sports scene starts with a pair of college campuses, the first being Mississippi State’s. Many choose to visit in the fall, when Davis Wade Stadium lights up on Saturdays for MSU Bulldogs football. Davis Wade is the fourth-oldest college football venue in the country and seats more than 61,000 screaming fans, making autumn weekends magical in Starkville.

Yet this college town is more than just SEC football—locals and guests alike also enjoy the legendary Dudy-Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium, home to the MSU Bulldogs baseball team. This legendary ballpark draws huge weekend crowds and is famous for its nationally known Left Field Lounge (where the rowdiest fans reside), which has been named the No. 1 thing to experience in college baseball. Dudy-Noble Field is considered by many the best college baseball park in the country.

Sports Attractions in Oxford

Ninety miles north of Starkville sits the campus of MSU’s rival Ole Miss Rebels. The facilities in Oxford are worth discussing—more on those shortly—but at its core, this city is known for its quintessential Southern charm. It is often touted as the “Cultural Mecca of the South,” as evidenced by multiple James Beard Award-winning chefs, unique shopping, and a vivacious atmosphere that can only be found in what some consider America’s most incredible college town.

The centerpiece of Oxford is Vaught–Hemingway Stadium, where the Rebels compete against SEC football foes. It is the largest stadium in Mississippi and has hosted some of the most electric sporting events in the state’s history, from Ole Miss’s 2015 win over No. 2 Alabama to the team’s famous 2016 blowout of the rival Georgia Bulldogs. And before the game, be sure to visit the famous Grove, which is the envy of the nation.

Enjoy some great southern cooking and hospitality and see why Ole Miss is the hottest tailgating spot around. It’s all set in the heart of America’s most beautiful college campus and in the company of its most devoted fans.

Ridgeland, Mississippi Sports Facilities

You might think Mississippi is all college sports, all the time, but the Magnolia State is also versatile, offering some of the finest sports facilities in America. For instance, Ridgeland, just 10 miles north of downtown Jackson, has three state-of-the-art complexes for baseball, softball, soccer, and tennis, plus the state’s only BMX track. Speaking of BMX, Ridgeland will host the 2024 Mississippi Cyclocross Cup Series, bringing biking enthusiasts to town for a top-notch annual event.

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Sports Attractions in Hattiesburg, MS

Football and baseball reign supreme in this Southern gem. M.M. Roberts Stadium, The Rock, boasts fantastic views and an electric atmosphere. Originally built in 1932, and most recently renovated in 2008, this 36,000-capacity stadium draws thousands of college football fans to Hattiesburg for Southern Miss football games every fall.

Meanwhile, the Southern Miss baseball team plays at Pete Taylor Park, which seats 4,300. The popularity of the baseball team and the park itself can be felt every game, particularly from the Right Field Roost, a tailgating area with a 15-year waiting list and the sort of welcoming environment that keeps fans coming back.

Grenada, Mississippi for Sports

Grenada’s most impressive athletic venue is the Kirk Auto Group Sports Complex, a ballplayer’s dream location. This facility has multiple well-maintained diamonds and amenities that make hosting baseball tourneys simple and enjoyable. Add in that there is ample parking and easy-to-access restrooms, and it is clear why Grenada is such a popular location for baseball tournaments.

Sports in Tupelo, MS

Baseball fans should rejoice some more, because the BankPlus Sportsplex in Tupelo has 12 top-of-the-line baseball fields, plus two T-ball fields. Whether you want to host a travel ball tournament or just visit the park and enjoy a sunny day on the diamond, you cannot go wrong when you make a stop in Tupelo.

Coastal Mississippi Sports Attractions

One of Coastal Mississippi’s finest features is the Gulfport Sportsplex, a multi-purpose recreational complex with an array of athletic opportunities and activities. This dazzling facility covers 250 acres and has nine ballfields with hybrid sand-based turf, crimson stone infields, scoring towers, four international-sized soccer fields, and a control center with concessions and restrooms. Ready to play? The Gulfport Sportsplex hosts some of the largest local, state, regional, and national tournaments in the Southeast.

Flowood, MS for Sports

Not far outside of Jackson, Flowood is a conveniently situated town that contains Liberty Park, a 40-acre premier sports complex with four Olympic-sized grass soccer fields and eight baseball/softball fields with turf infield and grass outfields. On-site amenities include two state-of-the-art concessions, restrooms, 317 parking spaces, scoreboards, and press boxes.

Sports Facilities in Greenwood, Mississippi

In Greenwood, sports enthusiasts will find the definition of versatility, like the renowned Stribling Park. This facility offers parking for over 600 cars in a seven-acre lot, 10 baseball/softball fields, and 17 irrigated soccer fields. It is the perfect place to host a sports tournament, no matter the skill level or ages of participants.

DeSoto County, MS for Sports

DeSoto County might be best known for hosting the Memphis Hustle, the NBA G League affiliate of the Memphis Grizzlies. The Hustle are a fun team to watch, and they play their games at the 8,400-seat Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi. The Landers Center isn’t just basketball, though: it is a multipurpose venue that puts on concerts and has a 17,000-square-foot convention center and a 400-seat performing arts center. The popular Mid-South Fair has been held at this Mississippi staple since 2009, showcasing DeSoto County’s influence as a premiere Southern destination.