Fans attending the University of Arkansas baseball season opener at Baum Stadium on Friday (Feb. 15) will have their bags checked in accordance with U.S. Department of Homeland Security guidelines, officials said.
That policy aligns the campus baseball stadium with current athletics department bag-checking procedures at Reynolds Razorback Stadium and Bud Walton Arena, officials said. Bags are checked at those venues for security reasons. Alcohol is not allowed inside.
Fans sitting in the left field Hog Pen still will be allowed to bring in outside food and beverages in coolers, officials said. The Hog Pen traditionally is where general admission fans bring in food in coolers to make use of barbecue grills at that site.
Kevin Trainor, athletics department spokesman, would not say whether fans at the Hog Pen would have beer and alcohol confiscated if they attempt to bring it in.
In a story headlined “Officials Crack Down on Baseball Booze,” the campus newspaper, The Arkansas Traveler, said in the opening paragraph “the athletics department will be taking measures to prevent fans from bringing alcohol into the Hog Pen.”
However, Lt. Gary Crain, campus police spokesman, told 5NEWS he doesn’t expect the athletics department to prohibit food and beverage products from being brought into the Hog Pen.
The first pitch for tomorrow’s game between the Razorbacks and Western Illinois Leathernecks is at 3:05 p.m.
