TCU

No seat? No problem. How some fans watched TCU-Indiana State at Lupton Stadium

By Micah Pearce
The Horned Frog faithful found comfort in some outfield trees, trying to see the action between TCU and Indiana State. The Frogs can clinch a spot in the College World Series with a win.
The Horned Frog faithful found comfort in some outfield trees, trying to see the action between TCU and Indiana State. The Frogs can clinch a spot in the College World Series with a win. Photo courtesy of Haley Shipp

Despite a delayed start time, TCU baseball fans came out in droves to see the Horned Frogs play Indiana State on Saturday in the NCAA Super Regional at Lupton Stadium.

TCU set a program attendance record for the second straight night with a announced crowd of 8,944. It’s the biggest crowd ever to watch a college baseball game played at a campus stadium in the state of Texas.

One night earlier, 8,812 watched the Horned Frogs win the series opener 4-1.

“There hasn’t been a crowd this big in the state of Texas for college baseball,” said head coach Kirk Sarloos. “That tells you a little something about TCU.”

Fans stood in line hours before gates opened at 5:30 p.m. Once they got in, they scrambled to find space in the grassy berm behind right field.

The berm got crowded so fast, some fans had to improvise.

That meant finding a seat — or climbing to make one of their own.

TCU fans found any way to take in the action from a packed Lupton Stadium, including climbing the trees outside the stadium.
TCU fans found any way to take in the action from a packed Lupton Stadium, including climbing the trees outside the stadium. Photo courtesy of: Haley Shipp

It’s fitting the Frog faithful would use the trees to see the game, as the mascot for Indiana State is the Sycamores.

Lupton’s seating capacity Is 4,500, which sold out hours after they went on sale days earlier. Any other tickets sold were considered general admission, so it’s a race to grab the best spot In the grass.

This story was originally published June 10, 2023 at 8:25 PM.

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