​For the second time in three years, Hattiesburg has been selected to host the DBB World Series, bringing millions of dollars to the Pine Belt.The DBB Jr. Boys World Series, which consists of teams of 13-year-old boys from 12 states across the Southeastern United States, will be played at Jaycee Park in Hattiesburg in July of 2027.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement”The tournament will bring lots of people,” Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker said. “Hundreds will shop in our stores, they will fill up our hotels, they will eat at our restaurants and they will go home telling their Hattiesburg story. It will showcase all that makes Hattiesburg special, but more importantly, it reinforces our commitment to building a community where strategic public investments strengthen both our economy and quality of life. We cannot wait to host next summer’s World Series.”In July of 2025, Hattiesburg hosted the DBB Boys World Series, which featured 14-year-olds from 11 states in the region. Based on the numbers from that year, VisitHattiesburg expects 2,000-2,500 people to visit Hattiesburg for the tournament and anticipates an economic impact of over $2 million.The City of Hattiesburg will host the 2027 DBB Jr. Boys World Series at Jaycee Park.”There is an energy that comes when a lot of folks from out of town are here,” Barker said. “It could be a youth baseball tournament, a soccer tournament or it could be a regional at Southern Miss. It really does carry an energy and everyone does well because of that.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHattiesburg has put an emphasis on the sports tourism industry over the past several years, highlighted by a 2019 vote to create a 1% Parks and Recreation tax for which 81% of voters favored. The tax has allowed the city to invest in parks and sporting facilities, including Jaycee Park, which will host the event next summer.”Public investments matter,” Barker said. “This facility was a part of our 1% projects. You have baseball here, you have softball for Hattiesburg High on the field next to it. That was a collaboration of about five organizations and the citizens of Hattiesburg. It carries benefits for us as a community, but also as we try to bring people in to our community.”Several cities in the region bid to host the tournament, but Hattiesburg won out. Kristin Brock, Vice President Marketing and Programs for VisitHattiesburg, believes that the city earned the bid thanks to the positive experience and feedback from when it hosted in 2025.”I think its because of the experience that they had here in 2025, the ease of hosting events here and the feedback they received from the teams that were here in Hattiesburg to play in 2025.” Brock said.The City of Hattiesburg will host the 2027 DBB Jr. Boys World Series at Jaycee Park.Hattiesburg hosts anywhere from five to 10 major tournaments a year and many believe that number will double or triple when the construction of the new indoor facility is complete in early 2028. Barke