baum stadium
sold per game. Arkansas sold more than 7,000 tickets for 26 of the team’s 36 home games. In 2004, Baum Stadium served as host to its second NCAA Regional and first NCAA Super Regional, drawing the largest total attendance in the nation for both events. The series-clinching win over Florida State drew 10,027 fans to Baum Stadium, eclipsing the previous night’s record of 9,338, set less than 24 hours earlier. In all, a combined 58,138 attended the NCAA Regional and Super Regional during the 2004 season. Arkansas’ 2004 attendance numbers were no fluke as fans continued to pour into the ballpark. The 2005 and 2006 crowds continued to set records for both average paid and actual attendance. While the NCAA and SEC recognize tickets sold as their method of ranking schools, Arkansas keeps both actual patrons as well as paid attendance figures and have seen steady increases in both areas. In an informal study by the Baton Rouge (La.) Advocate, Arkansas led the nation in actual attendance between 2004 and 2007 and was edged by LSU in 2008 by 20 fans as patrons returned to Baton Rouge’s Alex Box Stadium in its final season. Baum Stadium is the culmination of a vision that was possible only through the dedication of former Arkansas head coach Norm DeBriyn, former UA Athletics Director Frank Broyles, and the contributions of Willard and Pat Walker and Charlie Baum families. While the efforts of DeBriyn and Broyles have been instrumental in maintaining a state-of-the-art home for UA baseball since the original George Cole Field opened in 1975, it was the generosity of the Baums and Walkers that allowed Arkansas to abandon plans to renovate its former facility and replace it with a new standard in college baseball venues.
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The support of the George Cole family has been an integral part of the program’s growth since the former Razorback athlete, coach and athletics director donned the cardinal and white many years ago. “Without the support of the Charlie Baum, Willard Walker and George Cole families, this wouldn’t have been possible,” DeBriyn said when Baum Stadium opened. “It’s an incredible facility and there is not one like it anywhere in the country. There is no way to describe the excitement our players Arkansas’ Year-by-Year Record at and coaches have when Baum Stadium they take the field.” Representatives of all Year Record three families attended the 1996 6-3 groundbreaking ceremony 1997 26-7 on Oct. 12, 1994. 1998 22-9 Eighteen months later, 1999 25-5 Arkansas’ Matt Carnes 2000 16-19 delivered Baum Stadium’s 2001 19-8 first pitch to Auburn’s 2002 18-12 Russell Whittenburg, 2003 22-8 completing the dream. 2004 31-8 The Razorbacks defeated 2005 19-9 the Auburn Tigers 9-2 in 2006 21-6 the stadium’s inaugural 2007 22-10 2008 24-9 contest. 2009 23-12 2010 29-9 2011 24-7 2012 28-8 Total 375-149 (.716)