PEARL, Miss.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 25, 2005--The Mississippi
Braves and Trustmark Corporation (NASDAQ:TRMK) announced today that
the team's new $25 million sports complex will be named Trustmark
Park.
The stadium, currently under construction in Rankin County, will
be the home of the Mississippi Braves, Atlanta's Class AA team that is
relocating to Mississippi from South Carolina.
Trustmark is an $8.1 billion financial services company offering
banking and financial solutions through over 140 locations and 2,600
associates in Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas.
"This agreement signifies Trustmark as the Braves' primary partner
in Mississippi," said Steve DeSalvo, Braves general manager. "When we
moved to Mississippi, we felt it was imperative to build relationships
with companies and people who shared our core values about providing
family entertainment, who felt strongly about the area and wanted
long-term relationships.
"The Braves believe we hit a home run with Trustmark. We want
everyone to know that just as Turner Field is home to the Atlanta
Braves, Trustmark Park is the home of the Mississippi Braves."
The stadium, which closely resembles Turner Field in Atlanta,
features an amphitheater design with the playing field below the
entrance level and a 360-degree concourse. Trustmark Park's total
seating capacity will be 7,200, with 5,500 chair-back seats. Amenities
include 22 luxury skyboxes, a full LED video board, a corporate picnic
pavilion and a full-service restaurant that will be open year-round.
The team's first game at Trustmark Park is scheduled for April 18
against Montgomery, the AA team of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The
Braves are scheduled to play 70 home games in Trustmark Park this
season.
"Trustmark is delighted to be on the Braves' team," said Richard
G. Hickson, Trustmark's chairman and chief executive officer. "The
Atlanta Braves are one of the premier franchises in major league
baseball, and are known for their commitment to excellence, as
evidenced by their unprecedented 13 straight division titles.
"We look forward to families coming to Trustmark Park, the home of
the Braves, and enjoying America's national pastime."
Braves officials have announced the sale of more than 2,500 season
tickets and expect all luxury boxes to be sold by the opening game.
The final game is scheduled for September 5.
"Without question Trustmark Park will be one of the finest
facilities for Class AA baseball in the country," said DeSalvo. "It is
fan-friendly in design and state of the art with a high-technology
scoreboard that will produce an enjoyable game-day experience."
In addition to the Braves, Trustmark Park will serve as a venue
for athletic events, as well as concerts, shows and other family
entertainment.
HOK Sports Facilities Group of Kansas City designed Trustmark
Park, with input from Dale and Associates Architects of Jackson.
Mississippi-based W.G. Yates & Sons Construction is building the
facility, and Bloomfield Equities, LLC is the developer.
For additional information on Trustmark (NASDAQ: TRMK), visit its
Website at www.trustmark.com. For more information on the Mississippi
Braves, visit the team's Website at www.mississippibraves.com.
CONTACT: Trustmark Corporation
Gray Wiggers, 601-208-5942
or
Mississippi Braves
Steve DeSalvo, 601-932-8788
SOURCE: Trustmark Corporation