University Hopes Fans ‘Baum-bar’ Regionals

On May 17, the NCAA Baseball Tournament selection committee will announce where the 16 sites will be for its opening round of regionals May 28-30.

The University of Arkansas’ Baum Stadium is expected to be one of those sites, based both on the Razorbacks’ success this season and stadium attendance. Arkansas, ranked No. 8 in the nation May 10 by Collegiate Baseball, averaged 2,496 in attendance this season.

Included in that average is a school-record 5,102 in attendance May 1 for the Razorbacks’ 7-4 victory over Mississippi State University. The average attendance for games during the Hogs’ May 8-10 series sweep of Ole Miss was more than 4,000 per game, and that kind of numbers could make hosting a first-round regional lucrative for the baseball program.

The NCAA requires a minimum bid of $35,000 for its first-round regionals. As of May 13, the university had already sold about 1,000 tournament passes at $45 each ($45,000 worth). Walk-up, single-game tickets are $10 for reserved seats and $8 for general admission.

The tournament passes include all six or, if needed, seven games. A number of Northwest Arkansas companies have also already committed to being corporate sponsors.

Jerry Pufall, the athletic department’s director of special projects, says Arkansas will likely be more conservative with its initial bid because the team’s success virtually assures it of a first-round regional. But for the June 4-5 NCAA second-round, or super regionals, Arkansas will enter the open bid process the same as other schools.

He says super regional bids would be based on the support and attendance of the first round. Arkansas gets to keep all of the proceeds from concession sales and the net profit from novelty sales after the NCAA takes its 80 percent cut.

LaFolette Inc., which manages the university’s novelty sales, also gets a percentage.

Pufall says, if the Hogs’ can average 4,000 in attendance for its first-round games, he’s hopeful corporate sponsorship and ticket sales would be enough for a healthy super regional bid.

The biggest benefit to being host for a regional, however, is the exposure. Arkansas wants to establish itself as a perennial regional host, such as the University of Texas, Louisiana State University and Wichita State University.

A nice showing for its first-ever regional could do just that.