The University of Arkansas will break ground on a new $28 million football operations center on Friday, Nov. 4, it was announced today.
The new facility will be located just south of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, adjacent to the Walter Family Training Center.
According to a news release, the facility will include a new locker room, team meeting rooms, athletic training room, equipment room, a student-athlete lounge and study area, coaches’ offices, a recruiting reception area and a football museum.
Earlier this week, the athletic department announced it had met a $10 million challenge grant issued by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, and had raised a total of $28.4 million for the construction of the new football center and practice facility.
The full project is estimated to cost $35 million.
Yes this is exactly what we need. How about using some of that 35 million to pay the teachers and professors more? It is absolutely ridiculous that the university will spend that much money on a “football operations center” than take care of the people who actually make this university what it is. Makes mt stomach turn.
Chelsey, i personally agree with your priorities, but I wonder if you majored in ‘spending other people’s money’?
You clearly have a cause, and I’m sure you know many like-minded people. Raise your own $28.4 million and give it to whatever program you wish.
Wow is all I can really say to that.
Sounds like ArkInvestor is clearly a football fan… but I agree with you Chelsea. The university is expanding every year and grew a lot this year. That means more students, not just football fans. We have to remember the reason there is a football team here to begin with…the university, which is an academic institution. Academics. Teachers. Students. Not just a sports team. We got bumped up last year on the Carnegie list for having “very high research activity.” Let’s keep that going so we can attract great scholars as well as great athletes. http://tinyurl.com/3petzqg
Why should private donations to the athletic program mostly received from a matching grant and per seat charges for football games be in question? Seems the U of A recently had a successful funding drive to support academia to the tune of $1 Billion. Additionally, the athletic department made a check out to the U of A for $1,000,000 recently, in addition to a private donation from the coach.
Appears there is enough scratch to go around for all…
Cassy and Chelsey, I feel like you misread my point. I a) agree with your position and b) encourage you to take action to address it. I thought it was very clear that I support your position. I like football OK but have never given a dime to Razorback athletics because that is not my priority. I do support academic improvement and have given to causes that support that aim.
I just don’t think it bolsters your position to criticize the charitable giving of others toward causes they support.
The athletic department is financially on its own 2 feet and raises its own money- and has in the past few years given as much as 1 million to the academic side of the University during financially lean times. If they want to build a football facility so be it- as far as I can tell its their own money
Quit being logical! Don’t you know this is the internet and logic isn’t allowed?!
my bad, i forgot in the fayetteville is the epicenter of the universe atmosphere of the flyer it is not cool to approve of something as unfunky as athletics. I should have been directing my energy at debates about people in pickemups jumping curbs or the discussion on how funky it is down in Fort Smith thanks to Dierks Bentley and Girl Talk!
I like athletics. In particular, Razorback athletics.