For years now, the Southern Miss Golden Eagles have quietly built one of the most consistent and respected programs in all of college baseball. Winning seasons, packed crowds, and a postseason presence that has become almost expected in Hattiesburg have turned Pete Taylor Park into one of the sport’s true hidden gems.
And now, as the Golden Eagles continue to rise nationally, the ballpark they call home may be rising with them.
There has always been something different about a game at Pete Taylor Park.
Maybe it’s the walk in from the Longleaf Trace, where bikes and golf carts weave through the pine trees. Maybe it’s the smell of a Friday fish fry drifting over from St. Thomas Aquinas. Or maybe it’s what waits beyond the right field wall—one of the most, chaotic, and uniquely Southern scene in college baseball.
The Right Field Roost.
But if new plans released this morning are to be believed, that entire experience is about to be elevated, literally.According to sources within the program, Pete Taylor Park is set to undergo a sweeping renovation that will push capacity to 12,000 and redefine what it means to watch baseball in the Pine Belt.
And it all starts beyond the outfield.
The Roost, But Make It Vertical
The most notable change? The Right Field Roost is being raised into a tiered bleacher structure that will stretch along the outfield and overlook the Trace.
Yes, overlooking the Trace.
Plans call for elevated seating built just beyond the current outfield fence line, giving fans a clear view of the game. It’s part ballpark, part front porch, part Pine Belt amphitheater.
Officials describe it as “a way to blend the natural rhythm of Hattiesburg with the energy of college baseball.”
Translation: the Roost is going from backyard hangout to skyline feature.
Right Field Real Estate Boom
And then there’s the part that sounds like it came straight out of left field. Four luxury condominiums will be constructed in right center field.
Each unit will feature private balconies overlooking the field, built-in grilling stations, and direct sightlines onto the field. Early concepts even include retractable glass panels so residents can “feel the atmosphere without leaving the living room.”
One source said, “Imagine hitting a home run into somebody’s kitchen.”
Goodbye 16 oz Lounge, Hello Parrot Head Party Deck
One of the more surprising changes will come down the first base line.
The current 16 oz Lounge, the famous raised concrete berm type seating behind the visitors bullpen, known for it’s diehard of regulars, will be completely reimagined into a full-scale party deck experience.
In its place: a pool.
Yes, a pool.
The new space, officially dubbed the “Parrot Head Party Deck” in honor of Southern Miss alum Jimmy Buffett, will feature a resort-style setup complete with bar seating, tabletop seating, and a full-service drink rail overlooking the field.
Fans will be able to reserve sections within the deck, moving between shaded seating areas and the pool while still keeping a clear view of the action on the field. Early concepts show a mix of high-top tables, lounge chairs, and built-in bar rails designed to keep the social energy flowing throughout the game.
It’s a move that leans heavily into the idea that a game at Pete Taylor Park is as much about the experience as it is the baseball.
Trace Terrace in Left Field
Beyond the left field wall, where the pine trees open up toward the Longleaf Trace, Pete Taylor Park would take on a whole new personality with the addition of Trace Terrace Seating, a 4,000-seat bleacher section designed to feel as much like a social gathering spot overlooking the Trace.
Set slightly elevated behind the outfield wall, the Trace Terrace would create a natural connection between the ballpark and one of Hattiesburg’s most iconic outdoor spaces. Fans arriving by bike or on foot along the Trace could quite literally walk straight into the game through the newly constructed left field entrance.
The seating itself would lean into that identity. Traditional aluminum bleachers mixed with wide standing rails, drink ledges, and open social zones would give fans flexibility—sit for an at-bat, stand for a rally, or move around between innings.
Temporary Home… A Step Back Before Moving Forward
With construction expected to begin at the conclusion of this season, the renovation timeline is projected to last approximately one year, with a targeted reopening ahead of the 2028 season.
That leaves one big question: where will the Southern Miss Golden Eagles baseball call home in 2027?
According to early plans, the answer may be a familiar one.
Southern Miss is expected to temporarily relocate to Smokie Harrington Park, the home field of Hattiesburg High School. Known for its deep 445-foot center field, the ballpark would present a dramatically different look and feel from Pete Taylor Park—one that leans more old-school than modern spectacle.
While it may seem like an unusual move at first glance, there is historical precedent.
The Golden Eagles previously played neutral site games at Smokie Harrington Park during the 1970s and 1980s, making this a return of sorts, just with a few more cameras, a few more fans, and a whole lot more attention. Other contingency options, including games at Camp Shelby or a temporary move to Keesler Federal Park, have also been discussed, but sources indicate the program prefers to remain in Hattiesburg if possible.
For one season, at least, Southern Miss baseball may trade in packed grandstands and the Roost for something simpler.
A field, a fence… and 445 feet of center field.
Of course… before you start picking out your seats along the Trace, just remember, this one’s coming to you on April 1st.
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