FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas Board of Trustees voted Wednesday to move forward with preliminary steps for an estimated $160 million renovation to Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Earlier this week, the Razorbacks athletics department announced it would seek approval for full designs and full cost estimates, as well as to begin fundraising efforts for the project. Officials want to add additional suites, club seats and loge boxes to the north end of the stadium, and to renovate existing areas.
Trustee David Pryor abstained from voting Wednesday, expressing his wishes to see more specific details regarding costs and benefits, as well who pays and is able to take advantage of the benefits.
"This is going to take a lot of work and a lot of study on your part, and a lot of decision-making on our part," he said, addressing Long.
Before the board voted on the agenda item during its meeting at UAMS Medical Center in Little Rock, UA Athletics Director Jeff Long outlined the preliminary plan, which has received support from UA system President Donald Bobbitt.
The Broyles Athletic Center, located at the north end of the stadium, would have to be rebuilt as part of the renovation. The building houses administrative offices for the Razorbacks.
The project would also include renovation to the former Bogle Academic Center on the stadium's east side.
"Our focus has been on responding to the needs of our fans and what they've told us that they want in our program," Long told trustees, adding his belief that the plan addresses those needs.
The renovation would add 3,049 seats to the stadium, according to the agenda, increasing the listed capacity to 75,049.
"It is important to note that until design is complete, these are only estimates," the agenda states.
The $160 million estimate includes a $19 million contingency fund for cost overruns, according to the trustees' agenda.
The Razorbacks' home football stadium last underwent a major renovation before the 2001 football season. That expansion added an upper deck to the east side, as well as club seating and suites to the south end, and expanded capacity to 72,000 people.
Arkansas had sellouts for four of its six games in Fayetteville last season.
"This project is about the fans of Razorback football," Bobbitt wrote to trustees Jan. 15. "The guiding force behind the project design and scope is the development of seating types and amenities that fans are asking for, as well as updating areas of the stadium that have not been touched since the last major stadium project more than 15 years ago."
The 134 existing suites at the stadium are sold-out on an annual basis. During an interview last October with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Long said a 2013 survey indicated the demand for at least 60 additional suites.
Suites accounted for 16 percent of the Razorbacks' football season-ticket proceeds last season.
Existing suites vary in size and seat 12, 18 or 24 people, according to the trustees' agenda. The stadium has 9,076 club seats, of which 98 percent are filled through season-ticket sales.
The trustees' agenda states the only unsold club seats are scattered singles or seats with an obstructed view of a video board in the north end zone.
Parking in Lot 44 north of the stadium would be impacted by the project. The trustees' agenda states the athletics department is working to provide additional spaces in the area to offset parking lost because of the renovation.
Read Thursday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
Information for this report was contributed by Robbie Neiswanger, Chris Bahn and Brandon Riddle.