DENVER WAC Commissioner Karl Benson announced today that Rice will host rival Texas in the first nationally televised regular season baseball game involving a WAC baseball team on HDNet.
HDNet will televise the much-anticipated tilt between top-ranked Rice (NCBWA poll) and defending national champion Texas at Rices Reckling Park on March 11 at 7:00 p.m. Central Time.
We are excited to have this opportunity to showcase WAC baseball to a national audience, said WAC commissioner Karl Benson. HDNet has already proven that it is the leader in high definition programming, so we are thrilled to be teamed with HDNet in delivering the best possible picture to WAC fans.
HDNet is the first national television network broadcasting all of its programming in 1080i HD, the highest-quality format of high-definition television. The service is currently available on DIRECTV and Charter Cable to its HDTV customers. HDNet was launched in September 2001 by co-founders Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, and Philip Garvin of Colorado Studios.
It is expected that the announcement of the national telecast will help the Owls break an attendance record. All of the 3,500 seats in Reckling Park have been sold for the game, but there are still a few standing room only seats available.. Texas won all three meetings with the Owls in 2002, including a 4-2 decision at Reckling Park on May 14 before 4,610 fans, the third-largest crowd in the stadium's history.
Rice is currently 13-1 on the season with a 10-game winning streak. The Owls open defense of its WAC title this weekend at Louisiana Tech. Number nine Texas is currently 13-6 and is playing a three-game series this weekend against Arizona in Austin prior to its trip to Houston.