Dec. 18, 2008
WACO, Texas- Baylor baseball ranked 18th nationally in average attendance and 21st nationally in total attendance during the 2008 season, according to figures released this week by the NCAA. This marks the ninth consecutive year in which Baylor has ranked in the national top 20 in average attendance. Baylor Ballpark drew 92,152 fans over 30 dates for a 3,072 per-date average during the 2008 season.
The 2008 season was Baylor Ballpark's 10th; the Bears are 238-92 (.721) all-time at the facility, including a 21-10 mark last spring. More than 900,000 fans have visited Baylor Ballpark since it opened in 1999. Widely considered one of the nation's best college baseball facilities, Baylor Ballpark is expected to welcome its 1 millionth fan in 2009.
The Bears' 2008 per-date average (3,072) was the second-best season average in school history. Baylor has averaged at least 3,000 fans in each of the last four seasons and in five of the last six years.
Baylor is one of 10 schools nationally to draw at least 80,000 fans each season since 2000, joining Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, LSU, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Texas, Texas A&M and Wichita State. Furthermore, Baylor is one of only eight schools nationally to average at least 2,700 fans per game each season since 2000, joining Alabama, LSU, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Texas, Texas A&M and Wichita State.
After a one-year hiatus, LSU returned to the top spot nationally in average attendance. LSU, which did not lead the nation in 2007 for the first time since 1994, drew 311,187 fans over 41 dates for a 7,590 per-date average. The Bayou Bengals also led the nation in total attendance, drawing nearly 90,000 more fans than second-place Arkansas.
Baylor's 2009 season opens Feb. 20-22 as the Bears host University of the Pacific for a three-game series at Baylor Ballpark. The Bears return 19 letterwinners, including eight position starters and six pitchers, from last year's squad.
For more Baylor baseball information, check out Straight from the Pen.
