The Magnolia State has plenty of things going for it and welcomes millions of visitors a year, attracted by its natural beauty, wide-open spaces, and golden beaches. But it is one of a surprisingly large group of states that cannot boast a single major league sports team. Even when you add soccer to the traditional “Big Four” of football, basketball, hockey, and baseball, Mississippians have no home-state team to get behind.
However, with sports tourism becoming an increasingly popular thing, the good newsis that there is no reason why fans from other parts of the country should completely disregard Mississippi as a vacation destination. The sports betting apps in Mississippimay not be able to offer markets on their own pro teams but there are plenty of other teams to watch and activities to take part in. We will always look to represent our state in the best way possible and part of that involves spreading the word about everything there is to offer down here. With sports playing such a major role in the lives of many in the US, we felt the need to shine a light on what any sports fan might be interested in.
Anyone who lives in Mississippi, or has ever met someone from here, will tell you that sports are a big deal. But there has never been a major league team calling the place home - and it seems unlikely that will change any time soon. This can come as something of a surprise to anyone who follows college sports in the US in particular.
There are a few reasons why there are no major teams in Mississippi. Although the population is nowhere near the smallest in the union, there are not the big cities of some others – and a lack of infrastructure and markets tends to put the major leagues off. Bringing a new team to Mississippi would require a lot of investment and there are just not enough tax dollars to pay for a stadium and a team. Fortunately, sports fans are very well catered for despite the lack of a major pro team.
You may have caught the exploits of the Eastern Mississippi Community College football team on Netflix’s Last Chance Ushow. Even at that level, the passion for sports – from the players and the local people – will have been evident. But if it is elite college sports you are after, there is plenty of choice across the state.
There are six Division I schools with football and basketball programs in Mississippi, with three playing at the very highest level. The most famous are the Ole Miss Rebels at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, the Mississippi State Bulldogs, and the Southern Miss Golden Eagles in Hattiesburg. Those first two regularly attract bigger crowds than many pro football teams and watching one of their games is an experience that any sports fan should enjoy at some point in their life.
Although being part of a crowd of over 60,000for a college football game is an incredible experience, there is much to be said for the smaller teams and clubs that can be found all across the Magnolia State. Minor league teams have been an institution in Mississippi for decades and new teams in more niche sports are springing up all the time. Mississippi Brilla of USL League Two is a perfect example of how soccer has grown in popularity in the US in the last 20 years and Clinton is the place to go if you want to watch the stars of tomorrow. But other sports teams represent the state in the more traditional farm system of American sports. The Biloxi Shuckers are an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers and play Double-A baseball on the southern coast, while the Memphis Hustleplay in Southaven, just south of the state line with Tennessee, and act as an affiliate of the NBA’s Grizzlies. It is plainly obvious that sports can be found in every corner of Mississippi but if you want to get more involved, then the shorelines in the south of the state might be the best place to go. Your average American sports tourist might not automatically associate Mississippi with water sports but the cities of Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula might have just what you are looking for.
As well as diving opportunities, these coastal towns are perfect for paddle sports enthusiasts - or anyone wanting to experience the thrill of a jet ski ride. Mississippi shares the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico with near neighbors Louisiana and Florida but doesn’t always get the same levels of attention. But that only means that you will get more of a chance to try something new without the crowds of tourists.
You may not hear any Mississippi cities being mentioned on any of the nightly sports highlight shows thanks to the lack of major league teams. But it is obvious to anyone who visits the state that there is a deep love of sports everywhere you go. Sports fans are definitely welcome here and we think more should make the journey to experience a unique and beautiful place to enjoy whatever kind of sports you like.