What to Expect at Sports Force Parks

Opening Day is fast approaching, so we wanted to give visitors an idea of what to expect when Sports Force Parks on the Mississippi opens next year. We talked to Corporate Development Manager and all around park expert, Pat Farno, to learn more about the exciting features guests will experience next year when the gates open.

Pat Farno, Corporate Development Manager, Sports Force Parks on the Mississippi

First of all, we're sure many people are wondering how construction is going... can you give us an update? Construction continues to progress well with several fields completed with synthetic turf, LED lights installed, and scoreboards set to be installed soon. The team is working hard and will have the facility ready to go for tournaments in February!

What’s unique about the Sports Force Parks experience compared to other tournament providers? Professional quality fields, friendly staff, and entertainment attractions are really what separate us. We aren’t your typical park - we deliver more value and a better experience for visitors. All of our entertainment is all-inclusive, meaning once you’re in the park, you can ride the Fly Wheel Zip Line as many times as you want! Youth sports can be expensive, but our goal is to provide a better experience while also giving more value to families.

Sports Force Parks at Cedar Point Sports Center (our sister park) has become very successful in only two operating years; how are you planning to capitalize on what's worked well there while still giving Sports Force Parks on the Mississippi its own individual personality? Sports Force Parks at Cedar Point Sports Center is our flagship park and really defines our motto of Sports. Family. Fun. Well over 2,100 teams attended tournaments and more than 80,000 visitors walked through the front gates in 2018, a testament to the quality of the facility, our staff, and all of the entertainment visitors have access to beyond the tournament. In Vicksburg, we want to replicate this success with our Fly Wheel Zip Line and Bridge City Mini-Golf, both located on-site. These attractions, along with scheduled entertainment like water balloon fights, three-legged races, and inflatables, will create a tournament experience you can’t get anywhere else in the region.

What feature are you most excited about at the park? We are going to have three unique concessions in the park: The Market, Bucko’s BBQ, and Rusty Rooster Grill. The Market will be similar to a one-stop-shop corner store with everything from coffee and drinks to fresh hot dogs and pizza. Bucko’s BBQ is fresh barbecue being served out of a larger than life pig. The Rusty Rooster will be serving classic concessions and southern specialties. I like to eat so I'm excited that there will be a lot of great options all available inside the park.

Beyond the park's amenities, what else is there for families to do in the area? Vicksburg is a city that has a lot of history along with many entertainment options for families whether you want to be indoors or outdoors. Downtown Vicksburg is right on the Mississippi River and has many great dining and shopping options along with historic homes available that you can tour. There are also casinos, plenty of recreation opportunities and of course, riverboats!

What are the benefits for guests who come to a brand new park like ours? In addition to all of the fun things to do and the quality of the facilities, most of the fields at the complex will be constructed with synthetic turf. This means that the fields are always guaranteed to be in perfect condition, and regardless of the amount of rain in the weeks and days leading up to a tournament, we won’t cancel the tournament. Given the cost to travel and attend tournaments, having the peace of mind that you'll get your games in is a huge value that few other parks offer.

Register for any of our 2019 tournaments by clicking on "Tournaments" at the top of the page.