The University of Arkansas’ Baum-Walker Stadium will introduce a number of enhancements at the ballpark in time for the 2020 baseball season.
The school’s department of athletics has announced a roster of changes at the venue intended to improve the gameday experience for the fans, firstly with the continuation of free Wi-Fi. A stadium-wide network has been installed to provide fans faster and wider connectivity to support the increasing demand for mobile browsing and sharing content on social media platforms.
Fans will also notice the installation of metal detectors located at each entrance of Baum-Walker Stadium, which will enhance safety procedures by screening fans entering the ballpark. The use of metal detectors are already mandatory at NFL, NBA and MLB venues and are in use at may collegiate venues throughout the US.
Following the successful expansion of alcohol sales into the general seating areas of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium and Bud Walton Arena for Razorback football and basketball, fans will also be able to purchase beer and wine in public areas of Baum-Walker Stadium this season. Beginning with Opening Day on February 14, beer and wine will be available for purchase for fans attending the ballgame. The program will now be expanded to create availability for the purchase of beer and wine to fans 21 years or older within designated public areas in and around the stadium.
Consistent with SEC guidelines passed in May 2019, alcoholic beverages will be sold and dispensed at designated stationary point of sale locations on the concourse and not by vendors in the seating area. Identification checks will be required of every person at the point of each sale and alcohol will be dispensed into cups. A limit of two servings per person will be allowed with each transaction. Sales of alcohol will be halted in the middle of the 7th inning.
Greater fan interactivity will also be introduced with fans being able to request songs played in the ballpark, as well as the participation of a lightshow where during night games at designated times before the ballgame, between innings and during selected pitching changes, fans can participate with their mobile devices using an app in a light show that is synchronized with the ballpark audio.
