Erick Dampier Will Break Ground on Sports Center
Former NBA player Erick Dampier plans to launch a new Mississippi athletic facility by spring 2027.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Basketball
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NBA veteran Erick Dampier and Karla McCullough will break ground on the Mississippi Athletic Center in South Jackson in spring 2027. The project aims to provide a space for youth recreation and local development.
Why it matters
The development serves as a hub for local youth growth, with feasibility studies projecting that the facility will generate between $20 million and $30 million in annual economic activity.
The Mississippi Athletic Center will occupy a 33-acre site and span 200,000 square feet at a total project cost of $38.5 million. These plans follow a 4.5-year due diligence period by the development foundations.
The players
Erick Dampier
He is a former professional basketball player who played 16 seasons in the NBA after growing up in New Hebron, Mississippi.
Karla McCullough
She leads the development foundation alongside Erick Dampier to facilitate the creation of the new athletic complex.
The details
The facility will house indoor basketball and volleyball courts alongside health clinics and a hotel to serve the surrounding community. Developers selected the Jackson site following comprehensive assessments of local traffic and facility viability.
Timeline
Project plans were first announced in 2023.
A competing $100 million indoor facility was announced in Gluckstadt in 2024.
Groundbreaking for the facility is scheduled for spring 2027.
Construction completion is expected by 2028.
Season Trajectory
This project marks a shift toward grassroots sports infrastructure in South Jackson, contrasting with the high-cost development model seen in other regions. It positions this facility as a anchor for local athletic programming against larger, more expensive regional competitors.
The project intends to provide dedicated indoor courts for youth basketball and volleyball, directly increasing local access to regulated athletic competition. It also factors into long-term South Jackson economic development by potentially driving tourism through its integrated hotel and clinic.
The takeaway
This development highlights the ongoing effort to balance professional athletic legacy with community-based youth services in Mississippi. Residents should watch for upcoming public hearings as the project moves toward its 2027 groundbreaking date.
Further reading
For more news on local sports infrastructure, see Basketball.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Clarion-Ledger.
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