Tennessee to allow full capacity for Arkansas series

Tennessee infielder Max Ferguson is throws during a game against Vanderbilt on Sunday, April 18, 2021, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Photo by Kate Luffman, Tennessee Athletics, via SEC pool)
Tennessee infielder Max Ferguson is throws during a game against Vanderbilt on Sunday, April 18, 2021, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Photo by Kate Luffman, Tennessee Athletics, via SEC pool)

FAYETTEVILLE — For the third time in four weeks, a baseball team is expanding its stadium capacity ahead of a series against visiting No. 1 Arkansas.

Tennessee athletics director Danny White announced Monday that full capacity will be allowed for the No. 5 Volunteers’ series against the Razorbacks that is scheduled to begin Friday night in Knoxville, Tenn. Nelson Stadium’s listed capacity is 4,283.

Attendance has been capped at around 50% for Tennessee’s recent home games. White cited increased covid-19 vaccination totals in allowing larger crowds this week.

Arkansas (36-9, 17-7 SEC) and Tennessee (37-11, 17-7) are tied atop the SEC standings leading into their series, one-half game ahead of Vanderbilt and one game ahead of Mississippi State.

The Volunteers are coached by Tony Vitello, the former Arkansas assistant who spent four seasons as the Razorbacks’ hitting coach and recruiting coordinator from 2014-17.

Tennessee is 23-7 at home this season. The Razorbacks are 14-4 in games away from home, including 11-4 in true road games.

Arkansas is no stranger to playing in front of large crowds this season. The Razorbacks began the year playing in front of crowds that exceeded 16,000 per game at the College Baseball Showdown in Arlington, Texas.

Arkansas was also the opponent when Ole Miss set a three-game attendance record of more than 33,000 in April, and the Razorbacks played in front of a mostly full stadium at Mississippi State in March when Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn estimated there were 12,000 people in attendance. The official attendance for the first two games of the series was a little more than 6,000.

Three weeks ago, South Carolina increased its allowed capacity by about 1,400 per game ahead of a series against Arkansas, and two weeks ago LSU announced it would allow full capacity for a series against the Razorbacks. Arkansas won two games during both series.

The Razorbacks expanded their capacity at Baum-Walker Stadium last week for their series against Georgia. The listed attendance of 7,645 for each game equaled about 66% of total stadium capacity, but Georgia coach Scott Stricklin said Sunday he thought the crowds were larger than the announced figures.

“I don't care what the attendance says, there were 10,000-plus every game," Stricklin said Sunday on his postgame radio show.

While attendances are swelling at several ballparks, crowd sizes will be cut back in upcoming weeks. The NCAA has announced it will cap attendance at 50% for every stadium that hosts a postseason regional or super regional.

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