Something in works in LR
Last updated Wednesday, August 20, 2008 3:47 PM CDT in Columns
By Harry King
Stephens Media's Arkansas News Bureau
LITTLE ROCK - The University of Arkansas football team apparently is going to play in Little Rock through at least 2016, a two-year extension of the current contract between the school and War Memorial Stadium.
Signed Feb. 11, 2000, that is the contract that reduced the number of Razorback football games in Little Rock and divided the state. At this point, the contract is good through 2014 and the UA owes Little Rock three games twice in the next six years.
Talk of extending the contract has been bubbling along for a month or more. Such an extension would net Little Rock an additional two games and that, in turn, would enable the War Memorial Stadium Commission to finance bonds to improve the outdated pressbox.
In the past week or so, a couple of developments have added to the twitter in the Little Rock business community. A lunch between new athletic director Jeff Long, War Memorial Stadium Commission chairman Gary Smith, and Razorback Foundation representative Harold Horton was reported on a Hawgs Illustrated blog along with speculation that the stadium was the topic under discussion. Then, there was a luncheon for more than 15 people last week at the Little Rock Club, arranged by Smith and hosted by Chuck Cook of Regions Bank. Long was present and there were the inevitable questions about the future of Razorback football in Little Rock.
Long's answer was that there would be a news conference this Friday. Later that day, Long toured the stadium. On the job less than a year, he has grasped the importance of the Razorbacks' presence in Little Rock.
Dating to Arkansas' years in the Southwest Conference, the Razorbacks played at least three games per year in Little Rock until 2000. It was then that athletic director Frank Broyles, with UA Board member Jim Lindsey leading the interference, convinced the board to approve moving at least one game to Fayetteville. Broyles cited the increased revenue from expansion of Razorback Stadium to 72,000 seats and, at one time, favored playing all home games in Fayetteville.
The fight was bitter, alienating Little Rock businessman Warren Stephens and fans in Central, South, and East Arkansas who could get to Little Rock to see their beloved Razorbacks much easier than they could drive to Fayetteville.
Officially, the vote was 9-1 on the contract that included a provision that the UA play three games in Little Rock in four of the 15 years of the contract. Southwest Missouri State, Boise State, and LSU were the opponents in 2000 and South Florida, Troy State, and LSU filled the bill in 2002. LSU has been the SEC team in Little Rock in even-numbered years. While former Arkansas coach Lou Holtz was at South Carolina, Broyles put the Gamecocks in Little Rock in the odd-numbered years. After Steve Spurrier replaced Holtz, South Carolina was moved to Fayetteville and Mississippi State filled the league void in Little Rock.
Now, the time is growing short to twice fulfill the three-game obligation and the new 10-year contract with Texas A&M is an additional complication. Beginning in 2009, the Razorbacks and the Aggies will play in the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium and that eliminates a potential in-state nonconference game.
A two-year extension of the contract with War Memorial Stadium would include a waiver of the three-game obligation. In effect, Little Rock would have a net gain of two Razorback games.
Proponents of the extension can argue that fans have grown accustomed to only two games in Little Rock. Besides, some people feared that Arkansas would try to get out of the contract before it expired.
Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media's Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com.
About this columnist
The dean of Arkansas sports writers, Harry King updates his column five days per week with the latest on the Razorbacks. A 35-year veteran of The Associated Press, King joined the Arkansas News Bureau in May of 2002. He's covered the Razorbacks since the Arkansas-Texas game dubbed the Big Shootout in 1969.
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