FAYETTEVILLE — Saturday's game between Arkansas and Texas A&M was the second-lowest attended for their games at AT&T Stadium, but still strong compared to other neutral-site games this season.
The announced crowd of 67,339 was the second-most for a neutral-site college game this year. Auburn and Louisville drew more than 73,000 for a season-opening game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Arkansas-Texas A&M out-drew a game earlier this season between Alabama and Wisconsin at AT&T Stadium by about 3,000 fans. Baylor and Texas Tech are scheduled to play at the stadium this week.
Southwest Classic History
2009: Arkansas 47, Texas A&M 19
Attendance: 71,872
2010: No. 11 Arkansas 24, Texas A&M 17
Attendance: 65,622
2011: No. 18 Arkansas 42, Texas A&M 38
Attendance: 69,838
2014: No. 6 Texas A&M 35, Arkansas 28 (OT)
Attendance: 68,113
2015: No. 14 Texas A&M 28, Arkansas 21 (OT)
Attendance: 67,339
AT&T Stadium has a seating capacity of about 85,000.
The annual Oklahoma-Texas game at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas is typically the best-attended neutral-site game each year, with the game drawing more than 92,000 fans since the stadium was expanded seven years ago. The Longhorns and Sooners are scheduled to play Oct. 10.
In five games in Arlington, Texas, the Razorbacks and Aggies have averaged 68,557 spectators. Their largest crowd was in 2009, the first year of the agreement.
Expensive ticket prices could be to blame for lower attendances for the last four games, in which at least one team has been ranked. Tickets for the game range from $85 to $300, and some seats require additional donations to the programs' fundraising arms.
Arkansas and Texas A&M are contracted to play at AT&T Stadium nine more times. The schools make around $3 million each year for the game.
The Razorbacks and Aggies also fared well in TV audience numbers for Texas A&M's 28-21 win in overtime. The game had a 1.85 overnight rating on ESPN, making it the most-watched college football game of the weekend on a cable network.
2015 Neutral-Site Attendances
Auburn-Louisville (Atlanta) - 73,927
Arkansas-Texas A&M (Arlington, Texas) - 67,339
Arizona State-Texas A&M (Houston) - 66,308
Colorado-Colorado State (Denver) - 66,253
Alabama-Wisconsin (Arlington, Texas) - 64,279
Tennessee-Bowling Green (Nashville, Tennessee) - 61,323
North Carolina-South Carolina (Charlotte, North Carolina) - 51,664