FAYETTEVILLE -- Athletic department officials at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville took a step toward reconnecting to Razorbacks fans in central Arkansas by electing to move the annual Red-White spring football game to War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
The decision to move the game, which will be played at 1 p.m. April 7 with free admission, was announced by Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek in an e-mail Thursday. New football Coach Chad Morris is on board with the change of venue.
It is believed to be the first Red-White game scheduled in Little Rock since 1988. The Razorbacks once held multiple spring games before the NCAA began putting restrictions on spring practice time.
Yurachek wrote, in what he called his first periodic update letter to Razorbacks fans, that the SEC gave the university a waiver to hold the game off-campus this year due to the ongoing north end zone construction at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
"One thing that has become abundantly clear to Coach Morris and me is the importance of the Razorbacks throughout the state," Yurachek wrote. "To better connect our new staff and program across the state this Spring, Coach Morris and I have decided that we will be taking the spring game to War Memorial Stadium on April 7.
"This will provide an opportunity for Razorback fans in Central Arkansas to meet Coach Morris and his team and for each of us to get to know you. While staging an off-campus spring game is not traditionally permissible per conference guidelines, we appreciate the Southeastern Conference accommodating our request. The change in venue will also benefit the ongoing construction at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium."
The football program's relationship with Little Rock has been a hot topic in recent years, and particularly since last fall, when some members of the UA Board of Trustees were under the impression then-Athletic Director Jeff Long was leaning toward pulling games out of War Memorial Stadium.
School officials announced Nov. 22, the week after Long was fired by Chancellor Joe Steinmetz, the Razorbacks would play Ole Miss on Oct. 13 at War Memorial Stadium. That game would mark the final contractual obligation between the UA and the stadium, which is under the authority of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
Steinmetz said at Yurachek's introductory news conference that officials on both sides are working through discussions regarding the future of football games in Little Rock.
The stadium would need between $4.85 million and $10 million in renovations to stay in line with broadcasting and fan demands and potential SEC rules, according to emails and documents exchanged by UA leaders and the Parks and Tourism department in November.
The Razorbacks have played annually at War Memorial Stadium since 1948. The attendance at last year's season-opening game at the stadium, a 49-7 victory over Florida A&M, was announced as 36,055.
Arkansas had been scheduled to play its spring game in Fayetteville last April despite the construction before the prospect of heavy rain moved the game indoors to the Walker Pavilion and to a controlled scrimmage format.
Sports on 01/26/2018