Student Attendance Increases 55 Percent In 2016

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas students turned out in record numbers for Razorback Football at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in 2016.

Arkansas averaged 6,604 students per home football game this season, pushing overall student attendance to a record total of 39,623 for the six games inside Razorback Stadium. That total was more than a 55 percent increase from the overall student attendance in 2015.

Student single game attendance eclipsed 8,000 three times in 2016 with highs of 8,628 for the Sept. 3 season opener against Louisiana Tech and 8,299 against No. 1 Alabama on Oct. 8.

Arkansas’ 2016 football slate featured the best home schedule in Razorback history. For the first time in school history, the Razorbacks played four Southeastern Conference games at Razorback Stadium in a single season. The four SEC games in Fayetteville were against some of the nation’s top programs as each were ranked in the Associated Press Top 25. In addition, all four home conference contests were featured on either ESPN or CBS in prime time.

“Given the engaged Razorback student body and the continued efforts of the athletics department to reach out to University of Arkansas students, the record breaking attendance is no surprise,” University of Arkansas Associated Student Government President Connor Flocks said. “Students come to the University of Arkansas for far more than an education. When it’s your friends, classmates, and fellow students out there playing four top 25 teams in a row at home, coming to class on Mondays without a voice is the norm.”

Prior to each football season, students are encouraged to purchase a Student Access Pass. By purchasing the Student Access Pass, students receive admission to home football and men’s basketball games. A record 12,306 students have staked claim to a 2016-17 Student Access Pass, bettering the previous best mark of 11,768 set in 2015.

The only SEC West program to win a bowl game each of the last two years, Arkansas will be looking to make it three straight seasons with a postseason win for the first time in program history when it takes on ACC Coastal Division Champion No. 22 Virginia Tech in the 2016 Belk Bowl on Thursday, Dec. 29 at 4:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.

For more information on Razorback Football, follow @RazorbackFB on Twitter.