Oxford-University Stadium at Swayze Field is the home of the University of Mississippi Rebels college baseball team, the 2022 NCAA National Champions, and is located in Oxford, Mississippi. It is named in honor of Tom Swayze, a former Ole Miss baseball player and coach.

Oxford-University Stadium
Swayze Field
Ole Miss Baseball vs. Arkansas on March 31, 2018.
Map
LocationOxford, Mississippi
Coordinates34°21′43″N 89°31′44″W / 34.36194°N 89.52889°W / 34.36194; -89.52889
OwnerUniversity of Mississippi
OperatorUniversity of Mississippi
Capacity12,152 [1]
Record attendance12,503 (April 23, 2022 vs. Mississippi State)[2]
Field sizeLeft Field: 330 ft (101 m)
Alleys: 365 ft (110 m)
Center Field: 390 ft (119 m)
Right Field: 330 ft (101 m)
SurfaceGrass
Construction
OpenedMarch 27, 1988
(expanded 2003, 2009)
Construction cost$3.75 million (Original cost)
Tenants
Ole Miss Rebels (NCAA) (1988-Present)

The $3.75 million stadium opened on February 19, 1989, with a double header sweep of Cumberland University. The actual stadium sits on city property off-campus and was built by the City of Oxford, using a 2% Local Tourism Tax on prepared food and alcohol to pay for it.

Features

edit

Right field terrace

edit

The hill beyond the right field wall was equipped with a seating area in 1993 that sits comfortably between the field and eight tennis courts. This has historically been a section for students. Since the 2000 season the area has undergone many improvements. What began as a gathering place for about 100 students has grown into an area of about 1,000 students per game during conference season. This area however is not counted as part of the stadium.

Right field traditions

edit

1.) One of the main right field traditions involves the players themselves. After warmups are completed, each inning the outfielders throw the baseball into the right field student section where students write messages on them and then throw the ball back to the outfielders for warm ups the next inning.
2.) The beer shower: Upon an Ole Miss home run or walk off win, the student section jumps to their feet and throws their beverage into the air.


Left field terrace

edit

For many years there was nothing but trees and a parking lot beyond the left field wall. In 2006, the left field area, known as Oakes Pavilion, was renovated with a new scoreboard equipped with a large video board and the seating areas were upgraded with grills, picnic tables, and a play area for children. The left field area can hold around 1,000 fans and has become one of the more popular areas of the field.[3] It is mainly reserved for the families and non-students.

Stadium amenities

edit

Below the stands are coach's offices, locker rooms, player's lounge, press area, and a workout area for the pitchers. Along the first base line is a 6,800-square-foot (630 m2) hitting complex. In 2006 a large video board was added that supplies fans with replays during the game.

Expansion

edit

In April 2007, Ole Miss announced that their baseball stadium would undergo an $18.5 million expansion. The expansion was mostly completed in time for the 2009 baseball season. The expansion resulted in an increase of the overall number of seats to just over 6,000 and a total capacity exceeding 8,500.[4][5][6][7] The architect for both the original facility and the expansion was Cooke Douglass Farr Lemons. On June 6, 2009, an Ole Miss record 10,323 were present to watch the Super Regional game vs the University of Virginia (UVA won 4–3).

Attendance

edit

The first Ole Miss game with more than 10,000 fans (10,323) in attendance occurred on June 6, 2009, against Virginia in Super Regional play.

On April 28, 2018, a new attendance record, 12,152, was set on Double Decker Weekend in a game against LSU, which then No.6 Ole Miss won 9–8.[8] This record fell in 2022 during the final game of the Rebels' home series against archrival Mississippi State, when a crowd of 12,503 saw the Rebels fall 7–6 in 11 innings.

In 2013, the Rebels ranked 3rd among Division I baseball programs in attendance, averaging 7,996 per home game.[9]

In 2015, 2016, & 2017, the Rebels ranked 2nd among Division I baseball programs in per game attendance, averaging 8,028,[10] 8,619,[11] & 9,238 per home game, respectively.

Stadium attendance in excess of 11,000

edit
Date Opponent Attendance Result Notes
April 23, 2022 Mississippi State 12,503 Lost 7-6 (11 innings) Double Decker weekend
April 28, 2018 LSU 12,152 Won 9-8 Double Decker weekend
March 26, 2022 Tennessee 12,134 Lost 10-3
February 17, 2017 East Carolina 12,117 Won 5-4 Opening Day
April 2, 2019 North Alabama 12,081 Lost 10-6 School Day Game
April 22, 2022 Mississippi State 12,078 Lost 10-7 Double Decker weekend
April 9, 2022 Alabama 12,045 Lost 12-10 (10 innings)
April 27, 2018 LSU 11,861 Lost 5-2 Double Decker weekend
April 10, 2021 Arkansas 11,857 Won 13-6 2nd game of doubleheader
April 13, 2013 Alabama 11,729 Won 5-2 First crowd in excess of 11,000
February 19, 2022 Charleston Southern 11,621 Won 11-1
April 10, 2021 Arkansas 11,524 Lost 7-3 #2 vs #3
February 18, 2017 East Carolina 11,494 Won 3-2 All-time record set day prior
March 25, 2022 Tennessee 11,337 Lost 12-1
April 12, 2022 Murray State 11,331 Won 8-2
June 2, 2018 Saint Louis 11,304 Won 9-2 Postseason record
April 1, 2017 Mississippi State 11,204 Lost 2-1
February 18, 2022 Charleston Southern 11,146 Won 9-3 Opening Day
April 5, 2019 Florida 11,026 Won 12-4 Grove Bowl weekend
March 31, 2017 Mississippi State 11,017 Lost 5-3

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Oxford-University Stadium / Swayze Field".
  2. ^ "2022 Ole Miss Baseball: Game Results" (PDF). Ole Miss Rebels. June 26, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  3. ^ "Ole Miss Sports Official Website".
  4. ^ Unknown[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "University of Mississippi Newsdesk - Major Achievements During Robert Khayat's 14 Years as Chancellor". Archived from the original on 2009-02-21. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  6. ^ Boyles, Donald J. (February 13, 2009). "OLE MISS BASEBALL CONSTRUCTION UPDATE". Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  7. ^ "Ole Miss to expand stadium to 10,000 : In the Press : News : Cooke Douglass Farr Lemons Ltd". Archived from the original on 2008-05-17. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  8. ^ "No. 5 Ole Miss Takes Series with 9-8 Win over LSU - Ole Miss Rebels Official Athletic Site Ole Miss Rebels Official Athletic Site - Baseball". Archived from the original on 2018-04-29. Retrieved 2018-04-29.
  9. ^ Cutler, Tami (June 11, 2013). "2013 Division I Baseball Attendance - Final Report" (PDF). Sportswriters.net. NCBWA. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 28, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  10. ^ "Baseball Attendance Records 2015" (PDF). fs.ncaa.org.
  11. ^ "Baseball Attendance Records 2016" (PDF). fs.ncaa.org.