Arena Acquisition Closes

Remember when we told you that Springdale’s All Star Sports Arena at 1906 Cambridge St. was under contract (“Whispers,” June 20)?

Well, the bank-owned property officially changed hands in late July for $2.1 million.

Shane and Shelly Willis of Farmington are the new owners of the 130,000-SF building, according to property records.

The transaction lightens the OREO portfolio of Simmons First National Bank, which recovered the indoor sports complex in April 2013 from Scott and Connie Harris and Richard and Linda Harris at a $2.2 million foreclosure sale.

Shane Willis is the owner of 4 Star Auto, a used car dealership in Farmington. When we called, an employee there told us Willis had, in fact, bought the arena, but Willis was on vacation, and the employee wasn’t sure what the development plans were for the property.

A source familiar with the deal, though, tells us Conley Clarke will be involved in the daily operations under the new management.

Clarke, you might know, is the father of former University of Arkansas basketball star Rotnei Clarke, who played for the UA for three years before transferring to Butler University for his senior season.