FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas has demand for additional luxury seating at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, but no expansion is imminent.
Athletics director Jeff Long said Tuesday that the university had extensively studied adding more suites and club seats to the stadium's north end over the past few years. He said the department is "closer" to expanding the stadium, but didn't offer a public timeline.
Long said expanding the stadium would cost "well over $100 million." That is higher than cost estimates of between $78 million and $95 million outlined in an athletics master plan four years ago.
"It's not easy to move a $100 million-plus project forward," Long said. "There are a lot of people I have to educate and share information (with), and quite frankly get them comfortable with the financial undertaking we think we're ready to do.
"The next steps will be working with some people to see what the pricing would be for these suites and clubs, and making sure we can generate the kind of revenue needed to pay the debt and bonds on this facility."
Reader poll
Do you think Razorback Stadium should be expanded?
- Yes, it will attract more recruits
- No, games rarely sell-out now
- Undecided
1750 total votes.
Arkansas surveyed ticket holders in 2013 on whether they would be interested in purchasing suites and club seats at the stadium.
Among potential additions are loge boxes such as ones located in stadiums at Rutgers and Minnesota. Loge boxes would seat 4 to 8 people, according to the survey, and could be located inside or outside under a cover. Loge box amenities could include exclusive TV content, including instant replays and additional camera angles.
Fans were also surveyed about the addition of luxury suites in the north end zone, including potential field level suites with access to players, coaches and game day preparations. Luxury suites could include seating for approximately 16 people with immediate access to private climate-controlled areas, preferred parking and access to a club lounge.
The stadium, built in 1939, last underwent a major renovation prior to the 2001 season.
That expansion added an upper deck to the east side, as well as club seating and suites to the south end, expanding capacity to 72,000 people.
All 134 of the stadium's luxury suites were sold out at the time of the 2013 survey, with a waiting list consisting of approximately 75 accounts.
"There is a lot of information that leads me to believe we have the demand for it," Long said. "It's something I hope will happen in the not too distant future.
"It's a couple of years or more before it could become reality."