Million home fans for Hogs in 08-09

FAYETTEVILLE – More than one million fans attended home athletic events at the University of Arkansas during the 2008-09 academic year.

The recent 2009 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championship capped a year of outstanding events for Razorback fans as total attendance for Arkansas Athletics reached 1,110,125.

“The passion and support of the Razorback fans is extraordinary and we are grateful to the more than one million fans that came to our campus to support our student-athletes,” Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long said. “While many athletic programs enjoy fan support only in a handful of sport programs, we are fortunate that our fans follow all 19 of our sport programs. That is a tribute to the more than 460 student-athletes that compete in our program as well as the strength and loyalty of the Razorback nation.”

With the exception of men’s and women’s golf, who did not host a home event this season, each Razorback team contributed to the million fan total, with Razorback football leading the way at just under a half-million fans at home.

Five of the 17 teams with home events ranked top 25 in the nation in attendance this past season, led by the College World Series Razorback baseball team that was No. 2 in the country for average attendance with just under 270,000 total fans in 2009.

Razorback men’s basketball drew almost 290,000 to Bud Walton Arena this season and ranked 11th in the nation in home attendance.

The Super Six participant gymnastics team returned to the top 10 in national average attendance, checking in at No. 10. The gymnastics average was up significantly this season, and also had the No. 10 single attendance crowd of the year when Arkansas hosted Georgia.

Football was 24th in the country with its average of 71,422, and was 14th in the country for spring game attendance with 30,000, a remarkable number considering foul weather during the hours preceding kickoff.

Be a part of the next million Razorback fans. Tickets for Arkansas fall sports go on sale soon, along with tickets for the Southwest Classic football showdown at Dallas Cowboys Stadium with Texas A&M.

Tickets can be purchased on-line at ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or by phone at 1-800-982-HOGS.