Increase in Razorback Basketball Ticket Sales
LEFT PHOTO: MCT CAMPUS, RIGHT PHOTO: RYAN MILLER
Student Gallery Officials Unveil New Exhibit by BAILEY KESTNER Staff Writer
Coach Mike Anderson has brought new game and a new crowd to Bud Walton Arena this season, with attendance up from years past. by BAILEY KESTNER Staff Writer
UA basketball game attendance has increased this year compared to previous years with the arrival of head coach Mike Anderson, athletic officials said. “The arrival of Mike Anderson has absolutely affected the attendance of our football games in a positive way,” said Brian Pracht, assistant athletic director for marketing. “The excitement the fans feel and demonstrate at the games definitely shows an increase in attention,” he said. Looking at a comparison from this season to the previous season, which include the first 13 games, attendance has increased, Pracht said. The UA determines the number of attendance at the basketball games in two ways, Pracht said. “We take note of the actual paid number of tickets sold, but we also look at the number of estimated actual people at the
games themselves. In last year’s season, the number of actual paid tickets sold at this point in time was 11,428 and the estimated actual attendance was 8,140. In this year’s season, so far, the actual paid tickets sold are at 11,956 and the estimated actual attendance is at 8,613.” “Through these numbers, we can see an increase in about 500 people in attendance at our basketball games so far,” Pracht said. This is significant, Pracht said, in that Conference games bring in a much larger crowd and the Razorbacks have only played four conference games so far this season. “Our advanced ticket sales for future games are already significantly higher than last season, more than 500 more sold in comparison,” Pracht said. He also said the athletic department officials are expecting one of the largest crowds yet for the Arkansas vs. Michigan game, to take
place Saturday at 1 p.m. “We are thinking the Michigan game will definitely have a higher attendance than that of last season’s largest crowd,” Pracht said. “With the amount of people who attended Anderson’s introductory press conference when first returning to the UA - around 5,000 people, it is obvious people are excited he is back,” said Phil Pierce, associate media relations director. The arrival of Anderson brings back good memories and great times in Razorback history, he said. “Anderson’s product of a coach, of the players hustling and diving for loose balls, it all just enhances the history of the team. People come to see him and his team and are hungry for what he brings to the games,” Pierce said. An assistant and associate head coach at the UA for more than 17 seasons up until 2002,
LOGAN WEBSTER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Anderson coached at the University of Alabama-Birmingham and Missouri for nine years before returning to Arkansas March 23, 2011. During the 17 seasons prior to leaving the UA, the Razorbacks made five Sweet 16 appearances, 15 post-season appearances, four Elite 8 appearances, and three Final Four appearances. The team also won the NCAA Tournament in 1994 and finished as National runnerup in 1995. “The style of the team’s playing under Anderson so far this season has energized the fans,” Pracht said. There is a different, energetic feeling in the atmosphere of the UA Basketball games compared to last year, he said. “Though the team this year is extremely young, fans see the potential of the players and the possibility of a great 2011-2012 season under Coach Anderson.”
The University of Arkansas Student Gallery this month will present an exhibition entitled US, An Undergraduate Salon, featuring artwork created by art students during the fall 2011 semester, department officials said. The exhibition will include paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, ceramics, designs and sculptures, said Kat Wilson, a senior art major. “Through this exhibition, the art students are primarily learning presentation skills,” she said. “They learn about hanging and exposure, and more importantly, they get to show off their work from the fall semester.” The exhibition will take place at the sUgAR in Bentonville. Some artwork will be for sale, Wilson said. “It is up to the artist whether they want their
work put on sale at the exhibit or not. The prices will also be up to the artists themselves,” Wilson said. Selling prices are determined by the amount of time the students put into the work, the materials they used and the skill level of the artist, she said. The gallery, which was founded three years ago, is funded by the Honors College and by the UA art, architecture, and interior design departments, said Jeannie Hulen, associate professor and Art Department chair. Every month, the gallery showcases a new exhibition of artwork by UA students. “There is normally a good showing at these events,” she said. “We definitely expect a decent amount of people to attend US. Probably around 100 or so.” Many UA art students
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MALEAH GROSS STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
One of the directors, Kat Wilson, organizes and hangs art pieces in the gallery. The gallery features undergraduate art pieces.