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Sports Briefly: CWS sets viewership, fan attendence record in 2009

By Michael Sherfield

Daily Texan Staff

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Published: Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Updated: Tuesday, June 30, 2009

More people than ever before tuned in to see the Louisiana State Tigers become champions of college baseball this year. The second-to-last College World Series to be played in Omaha’s historic Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium drew almost two million viewers on average, a 37 percent increase over last year.

The surge in viewers follows the path set by attendance numbers, which broke the overall record with 336,076 people passing though the gates during the 12 days of play.

With traditional powers Texas and LSU, who are now tied for second with six CWS titles in school history, the championship series also boasted increased viewership over last year’s Georgia-Fresno State match-up.

The three game set, which LSU eventually won 2-1, produced three of ESPN’s top four most-viewed CWS telecasts in the network’s 30 years of coverage.

The tournament registered an overall rating of 1.5 and a championship series rating of 2.1.

After next season’s Rosenblatt finale, the series will remain in Omaha, its traditional home, but will take place at a brand-new stadium in the downtown area.

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