Baum Stadium
Encyclopedia
Baum Stadium is the home stadium for the University of Arkansas
Razorbacks
baseball
team. The actual field that is played on is entitled George Cole Field, named after the former Arkansas athletic director. George Cole Field was the name of the Razorbacks' home stadium from 1975 to March 1996. The old George Cole Field, located next to Barnhill Arena
, was converted to become the home of the Arkansas Lady Razorback softball team when the baseball team moved to Baum Stadium, which is one-half mile from the main Arkansas campus across Razorback Road. In 2003, Arkansas opened the Randal Tyson Track Center
in the parking lot of Baum Stadium behind first base.
The team is currently coached by Dave van Horn
.
, Coors Field
, Jacobs Field
, Camden Yards, U.S. Cellular Field
, and recent improvements made at Wrigley Field
. In 1998, Baum Stadium was named the country's number one college baseball facility in Baseball America (magazine)
. In 1999, the Razorbacks won the regular season Southeastern Conference
title and had a home attendance average of 3,780. (sixth-best in the nation) Baum Stadium was chosen as the site of an NCAA
regional
Prior to the 2003 season, 2,600 chairback seats were added with 1,300 going down each foul line. In addition, the hitting and pitching cages were enclosed so Razorback players would have access to it year round. During the 2003 season and the 2004 season, many new renovations took place. Eight new luxury boxes and permanent coaches' offices were added to the upper level. Also, a new state-of-the-art scoreboard
with video board, message center and a traditional hand clock
were built in right field. The scoreboard stands 51 feet high and is 76 feet wide and features four classic brick pillars. Also in 2004, a natural grass field was added, replacing the AstroTurf
field that had been in place since the stadium opened. Rye
grass was initially used for 2004 season, but was replaced by a hybrid bermuda grass for 2005. In November of 2006, the Razorbacks began construction on its third expansion of Baum Stadium since the 2003 season. The expansion includes 20 additional luxury suites, an additional 1,500 chairback seats, and the outfield area was tripled in size to bring the stadiums capacity to 10,737.
During the weekend of May 4, 2007, Baum Stadium was home to a record attendance mark for a regular season three-game SEC series, as Arkansas faced rival LSU. A total of 29,971 fans paid to attend the three game series between Arkansas and LSU, which was won by LSU 2 games to 1. The strength in attendance at Razorback baseball games has led to the continued expansion of Baum Stadium, now the third largest baseball facility in the SEC behind Dudy Noble Field at Mississippi State University
and the new Alex Box Stadium
at Louisiana State University
(Note: LSU's listed capacity is lower than Baum Stadium, but LSU's attendance routinely surpasses that number, averaging 11,000 per game.).
Baum Stadium hosted its first #1 vs. #1 matchup ever on April 7, 2009, a 7-3 Razorbacks victory over the Arizona State Sun Devils. The Hogs were #1 in Collegiate Baseball's poll, with ASU pulling a top ranking from Baseball America
and the USA Today
/ESPN
Coaches' Poll. The very next night, the Hogs set a then Baum Stadium record for attendance at 11,044 when they completed the sweep of the Sun Devils.
In 2010, the Razorbacks ranked 2nd in Division I college baseball
in attendance, averaging 7,704 per home game.
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
Razorbacks
Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team. The actual field that is played on is entitled George Cole Field, named after the former Arkansas athletic director. George Cole Field was the name of the Razorbacks' home stadium from 1975 to March 1996. The old George Cole Field, located next to Barnhill Arena
Barnhill Arena
Barnhill Arena is a 10,000-seat multipurpose arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas, now used primarily for volleyball. The arena opened in 1954 and was home to the University of Arkansas Razorbacks and Ladybacks basketball teams before they moved to Bud Walton Arena in 1993...
, was converted to become the home of the Arkansas Lady Razorback softball team when the baseball team moved to Baum Stadium, which is one-half mile from the main Arkansas campus across Razorback Road. In 2003, Arkansas opened the Randal Tyson Track Center
Randal Tyson Track Center
The Randal Tyson Track Center is a 5,500-seat indoor track in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It was built in 2000. It is home to the University of Arkansas Razorbacks track and field teams. It was also home for one year to a the semi-pro Arkansas Stars. The facility is located behind the first base...
in the parking lot of Baum Stadium behind first base.
The team is currently coached by Dave van Horn
Dave van Horn
Dave Van Horn is the current head baseball coach of the University of Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team, which plays its home games in recently renovated Baum Stadium...
.
History of Baum Stadium
Baum Stadium officially opened in 1996. It was designed by Populous (formerly HOK Sport) an architecture firm who also designed Busch StadiumBusch Stadium
Busch Stadium is the home of the St. Louis Cardinals, of MLB...
, Coors Field
Coors Field
Coors Field, located in Denver, Colorado, is the home field of Major League Baseball's Colorado Rockies. It is named for the Coors Brewing Company of Golden, Colorado, which purchased the naming rights to the park prior to its completion in 1995...
, Jacobs Field
Jacobs Field
Progressive Field is a ballpark located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, and is the home of the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball and the American League. Along with Quicken Loans Arena, it is part of the Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex...
, Camden Yards, U.S. Cellular Field
U.S. Cellular Field
U.S. Cellular Field is a baseball ballpark in Chicago, Illinois. Owned by the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, it is the home of the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball's American League. The park opened for the 1991 season, after the White Sox had spent 81 years at old Comiskey Park...
, and recent improvements made at Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
. In 1998, Baum Stadium was named the country's number one college baseball facility in Baseball America (magazine)
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
. In 1999, the Razorbacks won the regular season Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
title and had a home attendance average of 3,780. (sixth-best in the nation) Baum Stadium was chosen as the site of an NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
regional
Scoreboard
A scoreboard is a large board for publicly displaying the score in a game or match. Most levels of sport from high school and above use at least one scoreboard for keeping score, measuring time, and displaying statistics. Scoreboards in the past used a mechanical clock and numeral cards to...
with video board, message center and a traditional hand clock
Clock
A clock is an instrument used to indicate, keep, and co-ordinate time. The word clock is derived ultimately from the Celtic words clagan and clocca meaning "bell". A silent instrument missing such a mechanism has traditionally been known as a timepiece...
were built in right field. The scoreboard stands 51 feet high and is 76 feet wide and features four classic brick pillars. Also in 2004, a natural grass field was added, replacing the AstroTurf
AstroTurf
AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as...
field that had been in place since the stadium opened. Rye
Rye
Rye is a grass grown extensively as a grain and as a forage crop. It is a member of the wheat tribe and is closely related to barley and wheat. Rye grain is used for flour, rye bread, rye beer, some whiskeys, some vodkas, and animal fodder...
grass was initially used for 2004 season, but was replaced by a hybrid bermuda grass for 2005. In November of 2006, the Razorbacks began construction on its third expansion of Baum Stadium since the 2003 season. The expansion includes 20 additional luxury suites, an additional 1,500 chairback seats, and the outfield area was tripled in size to bring the stadiums capacity to 10,737.
During the weekend of May 4, 2007, Baum Stadium was home to a record attendance mark for a regular season three-game SEC series, as Arkansas faced rival LSU. A total of 29,971 fans paid to attend the three game series between Arkansas and LSU, which was won by LSU 2 games to 1. The strength in attendance at Razorback baseball games has led to the continued expansion of Baum Stadium, now the third largest baseball facility in the SEC behind Dudy Noble Field at Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
and the new Alex Box Stadium
Alex Box Stadium
Alex Box Stadium, sometimes pronounced as "Elec" or "Alec" Box, is a baseball stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It is the home field of the Louisiana State University Tigers college baseball team...
at Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
(Note: LSU's listed capacity is lower than Baum Stadium, but LSU's attendance routinely surpasses that number, averaging 11,000 per game.).
Baum Stadium hosted its first #1 vs. #1 matchup ever on April 7, 2009, a 7-3 Razorbacks victory over the Arizona State Sun Devils. The Hogs were #1 in Collegiate Baseball's poll, with ASU pulling a top ranking from Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
and the USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
/ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
Coaches' Poll. The very next night, the Hogs set a then Baum Stadium record for attendance at 11,044 when they completed the sweep of the Sun Devils.
In 2010, the Razorbacks ranked 2nd in Division I college baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
in attendance, averaging 7,704 per home game.
Stadium Facts & Figures
- First Game: April 13, 1996 (ArkansasArkansas RazorbacksThe Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
9, AuburnAuburn UniversityAuburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
2).
- Dedication of Stadium: May 3, 1996 (ArkansasArkansas RazorbacksThe Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
9, AlabamaUniversity of AlabamaThe University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
3).
- Largest attendance on record at Baum Stadium: 11,103 (April 9 2011 ArkansasArkansas RazorbacksThe Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
8 vs. LSULSU TigersThe LSU Tigers are the athletic teams of Louisiana State University. They participate in the NCAA's Division I, in the Southeastern Conference. It fields teams in 14 varsity sports . Its official team nickname is the Fighting Tigers and the school mascot is Mike the Tiger...
7).