|
Post by HomerHog® on Apr 29, 2007 22:26:43 GMT -6
For many, Razorback baseball began when "Brady Toops hit a grand slam home run", but I don't think the growth is done.
Consider the following time line.
1970- Norm DeBriyn hired 1973- First NCAA appearance 1974- Hogs compete in SWC for first time since 1926 1975- Move into state-of-the-art George Cole Field 1979- First CWS, runners-up 1985- George Cole gets lights, CWS 1987- CWS 1989- SWC Champs, CWS 1990- SWC Champs 1996- Baum Stadium opens 1999- SEC Champs, Baum hosts first regional 2002- Norm retires after being within 2 outs of Omaha, DVH hired 2003- Baum expanded 2004- Baum hosts regional, Brady Toops grandslam captures state Baums hosts 1st Super Regional, underHogs advance to CWS 2006- Baum hosts another regional 2007- Baum expands again
I lay out this lengthy list of events to show that the program has come a long way and that fans have had plenty of opportunities to get excited and jump on the bandwagon. None of this is shocking news.
However, I think all previous growth has touched baseball fans. Most of the 7,000-10,000 who pack the stadium are baseball fans at some level. Something has sparked their interest (winning, more publicity, nice stadium) to get them out, but they are ultimately baseball fans.
It is my belief that we are at a crossroads. Baseball is really just beginning to reach mainstream status. If this team does not meet hopes/ expectations down the stretch, interest has peaked. Not saying people are going away, but you won't attract new people. It will remain a large niche market. However, if they go on to win the conference and get out of the regional, I think there is a whole other level that this thing could go to. It will become THE main event, much like Razorback basketball was a decade ago. It will be the place to see and be seen. I still have people asking me about games and tickets who have lived in NWA for a number of years and have never been to a game.
If this season plays out like we hope it will, things could get crazy.
|
|
|
Post by dacooks on Apr 30, 2007 8:55:38 GMT -6
Good post and I think your predictions are right. The increased interest in college baseball is national, especially in the SEC - even where schools are not performing at a level where their football fans think they should.
Certainly, the days of the late 90's when we thought 1,000 was an incredible crowd at a midweek game (or 100 just a few years before that) are gone forever.
While I get the "fingernails on a chalkboard" feeling when I listen to newbie fans spout garbage, I also realize that at least some of these folks will turn into the crazed baseball nuts that you folks are. However, the people that come to Baum because it is "the place to be seen" drive me out of my mind.....the last Razorback game these society muckety-mucks attended was vs, Florida State for the supers.....they just take up air and space (and usually the best seats) from the real and potential baseball fans....but it is about $$, as we all know.
I think the next three (hopefully 4) baseball weekends at Baum should be something we will talk about for a long time....with new memories to be made....I can't wait.
|
|
|
Post by chopsooie on Apr 30, 2007 15:21:36 GMT -6
Great post- I just made it into the fanbase before the Toops slam, having only gone to the last regular season game against AU that year. Convinced myself to buy tix for the regional and turned out to be one of the best sporting events I've ever been to. After that, the Fla State super was a no-brainer. My folks will be going to their first Razorback baseball game ever this upcoming weekend. I hope the place is jam packed!
|
|
|
Post by extrapoint on Apr 30, 2007 16:05:34 GMT -6
However, if they go on to win the conference and get out of the regional, I think there is a whole other level that this thing could go to. It will become THE main event, much like Razorback basketball was a decade ago. It will be the place to see and be seen. Reaching Omaha this year will continue to grow the interest in Razorback baseball, but I think there is a long way to go before reaching early to mid-90's level support of basketball. At the height of basketball attendance, we were above capacity nearly every game at BWA. We have yet to reach our 10,737 capacity at Baum this year. Even this past year when attendance was "average" in the mind of many fans, we still had crowds averaging more than 75% capacity of BWA. We are averaging 7,550 tickets sold at Baum right now per game (70% of capacity) year to date. While I think it can be done eventually, I think we have a long way to go when the average Baum crowd for all games is the same capacity as BWA was in the mid-90's since we are not yet at the level of capacity of this last basketball season.
|
|
|
Post by trAn on Apr 30, 2007 16:10:46 GMT -6
I think weather had a big role in our attendance numbers this year. Had we have better weather, then we would have seen Baum packed earlier and often. I think with the combination of this year's results, the later starting date for baseball and the next two seasons with quality opponents coming into Baum, we will see an increase in the numbers.
|
|
|
Post by Charlie on Apr 30, 2007 16:51:09 GMT -6
And I think weather will always be a factor for baseball. That, along with the sheer # of games, means that we will never be at capacity for every game.
But I think if you look at our attendance compared to other teams around the country, we are a premier program, just like basketball in the mid 90s.
|
|
|
Post by Buaman22 on Apr 30, 2007 16:52:58 GMT -6
except with a sane coach
|
|
|
Post by hography on Apr 30, 2007 17:02:55 GMT -6
I will admit the Toops GS was my first game to see the Diamond Hogs play. I had just moved up to NWA from SWA and had not heard a lot about the team. I had heard of DVH from Texarkana. I am a HUGS baseball fan to begin with and the first time I came to Fayetteville to visit the campus, Baum was the first impression I got. I knew I would be spending a lot of time at this facility. I was taking summer school classes and took some time out of design studio and went home to get my daughter and came up to see the game. It was packed and we just sit on the hill outside of the hog pen. We were there maybe thirty minutes when the SALAMI came our way. The seasons that have followed I have only missed a handful of games and this year have made them all but 3 innings in the opening weekend Monday game for a test. This is the first year that I bought season tickets for the family and helping to spread the good word about these boys of SPRING. I am hooked now and will be there win or lose, rain or shine.
|
|
|
Post by Buaman22 on Apr 30, 2007 17:45:35 GMT -6
My first game was the Friday night Tennessee game that year, bloody Craig Cobb beat us, but we listened to every game we could that year and came to the final game of the year against Auburn.
I love this game
|
|
|
Post by HomerHog® on Apr 30, 2007 19:29:01 GMT -6
Reaching Omaha this year will continue to grow the interest in Razorback baseball, but I think there is a long way to go before reaching early to mid-90's level support of basketball. At the height of basketball attendance, we were above capacity nearly every game at BWA. We have yet to reach our 10,737 capacity at Baum this year. Even this past year when attendance was "average" in the mind of many fans, we still had crowds averaging more than 75% capacity of BWA. We are averaging 7,550 tickets sold at Baum right now per game (70% of capacity) year to date. While I think it can be done eventually, I think we have a long way to go when the average Baum crowd for all games is the same capacity as BWA was in the mid-90's since we are not yet at the level of capacity of this last basketball season. You sort of help make my point. While we are enjoying big crowds, I think we have only scratched the surface. There is a huge segment of the population that has not discovered Razorback baseball. Each of the previous events have sparked growth. The next month could top all of those as far as making Razorback baseball a mainstream, household event.
|
|
|
Post by chopsooie on May 1, 2007 0:01:43 GMT -6
Basketball and football have been the only "real" sports in the minds of a lot of fans for a long time, simply because those are the sports that "matter" in their eyes; they fund the athletic dept, they get the TV exposure, and their venues hold more people. College baseball, whether right or wrong, just isn't in that category. Maybe it will be one day but now now. But, it is experiencing fantastic growth, more than any other sport. Therefore I don't think it's right to compare the level of baseball attendance now, with the level of basketball or football attendance now. I'd say a more accurate assessment would be comparing the baseball attendance now with say the basketball attendance of the mid 70's, or football of the 50's. I think to many fans going to a baseball game in their minds is more of an "afternoon time killer" than an actual "event." And it will take a while for the perception to get beyond that. Given enough time (and a NC wouldn't hurt either ) it will probably reach that level.
|
|
|
Post by hawgleg on May 1, 2007 7:04:27 GMT -6
I think we have only scratched the surface. I come from SE Arkansas and moved back here after going to school in the mid-90's, and I attended some games back then, but there wasn't a buzz like there is now.
I also think you can compare the baseball program to what the basketball program went through in terms of growth from the Sutton years to the Nolan years, in that Debriyn built the baseball program like Sutton built the basketball program, then Van Horn has taken it to a new level, and will win a NC, like Nolan took us to a new level and the rest is history.
I know a lot of friends from SE Arkansas who now listen to all the ball games (and come to a few every year), and when I was growing up we didn't have radio coverage of the baseball team, and I think that is also a big factor.
|
|
|
Post by lowbren on May 1, 2007 10:55:14 GMT -6
Several years ago I brought my lifelong Hog fan wife to watch a game at Baum Stadium. She wasn't big on baseball, until that day. She's hooked for life (she can now explain the infield fly rule). All it took was getting her in the park and feeling the energy. She's ordered season tickets ever since. We have not missed one game at home. We have had the opportunity to sit in skyboxes but declined all offers because she wants to be among the fans in the sun, rain or sleet. It is very irritating to me to see the same seats empty at every game. Why buy the tickets if you're not going to put a screaming body in them?
|
|
|
Post by hography on May 1, 2007 11:15:47 GMT -6
Why buy the tickets if you're not going to put a screaming body in them? Hear, hear!
|
|
|
Post by ♣Drizzle™♣ on May 1, 2007 12:15:08 GMT -6
She can now explain the infield fly rule Nicely done. Now that I think of it, that should be part of the prenup. Where are our lawyer friends? Lawhog, freedomcounty? Remember this!
|
|