The MAX opening gala

“From developers to business consultants and other people, they get to see meridian, they get to see that meridian is open business, and it just pushes momentum our way,” Meridian Mayor Percy Bland said.

Momentum was pushed through meridian Friday night with the gala held at the new Mississippi arts and entertainment experience. “It’s just amazing to see it come to fruition. It’s a gift to this state and people everywhere who come through here because what they get to see is the richness. There’s got to be something in the water, because there are more talented people, indigenous to the state, more than anywhere on the planet,” Said actress Sela Ward.

In the busyness of the chit-chat and the music, many spoke before the crowd in order to bask in the accomplishment that the Max is. “It will influence the entire state because what they’ll do is they’ll come here, and they’ll see where Elvis Presley was born, there’s a Jimmie Rodgers museum, there’s a bb king museum, the civil rights museum; Mississippi has become one great big museum and tourist destination, and it’s going to mean all the difference for us,” Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant said. “This is a state museum, but it’s right here in the city of Meridian, and at the end of the day we’re going to realize the tourism dollars that people spend here,” Bland explained. “We’re going to do great things with our city because of that, and that’s what I’m most proud about,”.

The Max is now open to the public, and tickets are $14.