UA Scales Back

At least one planned facility has already been scaled back because the anticipated cost was too high.

University of Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles says plans for an indoor practice arena were recently scaled down after officials discovered the cost was too high.

As originally discussed, a 120,000-SF building would have cost around $6 million, Broyles says. Although planned to provide facilities where the football team could practice during inclement weather, the building was also to provide meeting space.

“We thought we might be able to help Wal-Mart have more vendors” and other groups, Broyles says.

Now it appears the UA will pursue the idea of a 76,000-SF building.

“We’ll use it on game day for an indoor entertainment area before the game,” Broyles says. Additionally, the facility would be used for other sports, including baseball and women’s softball and soccer.

Broyles says the facility is still in the planning stages, with approval needed from several committees before proceeding.

A new UA structure that will be available for rental is the new equine center, which includes an arena with seats for 750 people.

Keith Lusby, chairman of the UA Animal Sciences Department, hopes bids can be let in August for the 25,000-SF building.

Educational events will have first priority in the center, but it will be available for rental by outside groups. Lusby, however, doesn’t see it as competition for the proposed town center or other facilities.

“We talked to folks at Fayetteville and Springdale about it” when the project was being planned, Lusby says. “It’s more complementary to what they have then competition. We’re not out to be a for-profit convention center.”