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.
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
Right field terrace
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
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
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
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 (630m2) hitting complex. In 2006 a large video board was added that supplies fans with replays during the game.
Expansion
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).
Swayze Field expansion construction.
Swayze Field expansion completion.
Attendance
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 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
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)
May 30, 2025
Murray State
11,925
Lost 9-6
2025 Oxford Regional
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
March 27, 2026
Mississippi State
11,758
Lost 5-4
April 13, 2013
Alabama
11,729
Won 5-2
First crowd in excess of 11,000
May 31, 2025
Western Kentucky
11,703
Won 8-6
2025 Oxford Regional
February 19, 2022
Charleston Southern
11,621
Won 11-1
June 1, 2025
Georgia Tech
11,620
Won 11-9
2025 Oxford Regional
June 1, 2025
Murray State
11,617
Won 19-8
2025 Oxford Regional
April 10, 2021
Arkansas
11,524
Lost 7-3
#2 vs #3
April 11, 2026
LSU
11,501
Won 12-2 (7)
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
March 28, 2026
Mississippi State
11,336
Lost 6-1
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
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Swayze Field.
