Baum Boxes Bring More UA Revenue

Tom Dorre, associate athletic director at the University of Arkansas, said this year’s $1.35 million addition of 10 new skyboxes at Baum Stadium has been a wise investment. The 5,000-SF expansion followed the addition of 2,600 chairback seats (1,300 down each foul line) in 2003 and gives the venue a total of 12 luxury suites.

The venue now has 5,900 permanent seats and a capacity of 9,477.

Dorre, who acts as the chief financial officer for the Razorbacks athletic department, said the suites lease for $15,000 per year with a required three-year commitment.

Ticket sales at Baum Stadium for 2003 totaled $281,500, up 54.8 percent from $181,900 in 2002, thanks primarily to the additional seating. Dorre said recently that only 16 games into this season, it’s too early to predict 2004’s financial finish, but benchmark comparisons look promising.

“Ticket sales are definitely up again,” Dorre said. “Some of that has had to do with the good, mild weather we’ve had. But it’s clear that baseball is something that’s growing here and we expect to exceed our revenue predictions.”

Dorre said other additions have also made the park more fan friendly. A Plexiglas wall behind home plate has reduced the wind-tunnel effect in the grandstand, and the added seats and new natural-grass playing surface are more aesthetically pleasing to fans, Dorre said.

Bob Grant, the UA’s assistant sports information director, said the Razorbacks are changing the way they count attendance this season. Rules allow for schools to count either tickets sold or give a more accurate fan estimate from the games. Last year, the Hogs’ actual head count was 60,303 or an average of 2,100 people at 28 home games. This year, the program will provide both numbers.

“If you count our tickets sold, we’re in the Top 10 programs in the nation,” Grant said.

Arkansas, 11-5 heading into the three-game March 12 weekend, was scheduled to host Centenary at 5:05 p.m. on March 16 and the Gentleman again at 12:05 p.m. on March 17.