Baseball ranked No. 2 in attendance

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – With an average of 7,906 fans per game during the 2009 season, and for the second consecutive season, the University of Arkansas baseball team ranked No. 2 in the nation in attendance, as released by the NCAA this week. The Razorbacks finished third in total attendance as 245,092 fans witnessed games at Baum Stadium last season.

Arkansas has ranked in the top five in national attendance for the past six years, including a No. 2 spot in four of the past five seasons. The Razorbacks finished first in the attendance rankings during the 2007 season. Arkansas has been ranked in the top 30 for the past 10 years, jumping into the top five following the 2004 season. The Razorbacks were No. 22 the previous year.

During the 2009 season, the Razorback fans flooded the gates into Baum Stadium to create one of the biggest home-field advantages in the nation. On April 8, 2009, a facility-record 11,014 fans witnessed the top-ranked Razorbacks rally past Arizona State in game two of the midweek series. Two of the top 10 all-time crowds posted last season with the Arizona State draw and the collection of 9,782 fans in game one of the Vanderbilt series. On 12 different occasions, Arkansas drew more than 8,000 fans.

The top five teams in the attendance rankings hail from the Southeastern Conference. Defending national champion LSU claimed the top spot with 9,611 fans per contest. Ole Miss was ranked third with South Carolina and Mississippi State coming in at No. 4 and 5, respectively. All 12 teams in the SEC were ranked in the top 41.

Arkansas opens the 2010 season Feb. 19-21 with a three-game home series against Ball State. The first seven games of the season, and 12 of the first 15, will be played at Baum Stadium. For tickets, call the Razorback Ticket Office at 1-800-982-HOGS.