The Univ. of Arkansas BOT on Thursday approved an expansion of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, voting 8-2 in favor of the estimated $160M project that will see capacity "grow to about 76,000 from 72,000," according to a front-page piece by Jaime Adame of the ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE. The Univ. of Arkansas System board "cleared the way for an increase in premium seating after hearing Fayetteville officials say that athletic department revenue will pay off debt" from a $120M bond for the project. Former U.S. Sen. and current UA BOT member David Pryor said that with "interest and other expenses associated with the planned bond issue, the total cost" will be more than $220M. He said a previous renovation to add 21,000 seats done before the '01 season got more "bang for our buck." Adame notes the final project cost was about $110M "for the earlier renovation." Expansion will mostly involve the "stadium's north end." UA AD Jeff Long said that construction "would begin after the final home game of the coming football season and that the goal is to have renovations done in time" for '18. Long told trustees about the "strength of the UA athletic department's finances and the market demand for premium seating." To cover $40M in costs not financed by the bond, Long said that $10M "is coming now from the athletic department to pay for ongoing design and pre-construction work." The Razorback Foundation "also has committed to making" $10M available "as a 'backstop' to support the project if necessary." But Long "emphasized the sales of new premium seats as contributing to the project costs" (ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE, 6/17).
