/Gov Bryant unexpectedly revives talk of new Jackson State stadium

Gov Bryant unexpectedly revives talk of new Jackson State stadium

Bryant spoke to the media after a ceremony to celebrate the construction of a new building at University of Mississippi Medical Center. Bryant stated that he believes it’s time to demolish the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in order to make room for the expansion of the Jackson health care corridor. Bryant stated that he believes it is time to build a stadium for Jackson State on their campus. “That land is valuable and we need it.” Jackson State hosts home games at the Veterans Memorial Stadium (60,000 seats), which is located just west of UMMC. Built in 1950, the football stadium was completed. Although Bryant’s statement was not expected by JSU administrators, they had long wanted a new stadium. The construction of the facility is part of a master plan for growth that aims to expand the campus eastward to downtown Jackson. The university has conducted numerous feasibility studies and published specific plans. Officials from the university have considered both open-air and domed stadium options. The state legislature gave control of Memorial Stadium in Jackson State in 2011 with the condition that the university would transfer it to UMMC for the construction of a new stadium. In 2014, Mississippi Senate bills had been filed that would have allowed an amusement tax exemption for Jackson in order to build a new stadium. These bills did not make it to the committee. Bryant’s speech was followed by a statement from the university: “It has been a long-held desire of Jackson State University for a football stadium to be built on its main campus. We appreciate the support we have received to make this a reality.” The land that will become the stadium has been valued over time by UMMC officials. LouAnn Woodward, Vice-Chancellor of UMMC, stated that UMMC’s lack of expansion space puts it at a disadvantage. Bryant stated Monday that Bryant believes it is time to remove it and make it a medical city. “Not just UMMC, let’s allow Baptist, St. Dominic’s, and other health care industry to come into this area to expand that health care corridor.”