A spectating super opportunity for the super donors was presented Thursday to high-dollar University of Arkansas basketball boosters.

UA director of athletics Jeff Long announced what always has been Press Row courtside at Walton Arena now is for sale as Courtside Club seats to Broyles-Matthews Scholarship donors, the highest donating strata of Razorback Foundation contributors.

Brochures were mailed to 799 Broyles-Matthews donors regarding if they are interested in any of 34 seats formerly occupied by media for men’s basketball sale at $ 12, 000 per year for five years.

Courtside Club availability is based on a priority system of donating to the Razorback Foundation.

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The Courtside Club ticket includes exclusive access to a Courtside Club room in a separate area of Walton Arena that will have food and beverages available pregame and at half.

Eventually, the Courtside Club will have waiters and waitresses serving their needs during games but probably not this year, Long said.

The 34 seats, changing now to luxury-type cushioned seats with cupholders, also will be available for women’s games at a cost yet to be determined, Long said.

To make way for those fans, and the $ 400, 000 annual revenue Long projects from those seats for the men’s games of coach John Pelphrey’s Hogs, the UA has moved the media to the east baseline adjacent to the Hogwild Band.

Long also announced the retractable seats that are on the both sides of the court are being replaced with brand new retractable seats and that students, who tend to stand most of the time anyway, Long said, will have bench seating instead of chair seating.

Long said he expects the bench type seatings for students should prompt them to stand for longer periods and increase Arkansas ’ already spirited home court advantage.

Long also said the basketball court at Walton Arena is being stripped to its original wood and resurfaced.

The stripping removes the slobbering Hog, originally on the Barnhill Arena court and then at Walton.

It will be replaced with what Long called, “ the classic Hog, ” adorning the Razorbacks’ football helmets and various athletic uniforms.

Additionally, Long said, “ We’re also going to be adding courtside LED signage at the scorer’s table, and what we call ribbon boards, LED boards that circle the arena facing the court. ”

Regarding the cost of new seating and the LED ribbon boards and signage, Long said, “ The seating alone will be somewhere around $ 1. 8 million to change the seating. The LED boards are estimated between $ 900, 000 and $ 1. 2 million. ”

Long said only 34 Courtside Club seats are available because an aisle must be cleared for the referees to enter and exit and for space accommodating networks televising games.

Both teams now will enter and exit from the tunnel behind the east goal, Long said.

Long also indicated some changes in the pre-game and during the game routines in timeouts.

“ I’m not ready to share those with you, ” Long said, “ but we are looking for continuous improvement. We have done great things here over the years, but we are interested in staying on the cutting edge. ”

Long was asked if “ cutting edge” was meant for the spirit groups and Hogwild Band and more emphasis on the amplified “ We Will Rock You / Let’s Get Ready to Rumble” genre popular with NBA teams.

“ I wouldn’t characterize them that way, ” Long said, “ but some innovative things to create an environment maybe generate a little more electricity. Certainly the cheerleaders and band will be a big part of it. And that’s a big part of college basketball. I don’t want anybody to think that they won’t be a big part of what we do. We don’t want an NBA environment, but I do think there are some elements that the ribbon boards and signage give us to enhance our collegiate environment. ”

Pelphrey watched Thursday’s press conference and was asked if he had input.

“ We’ve talked over the course of the season, ” Pelphrey said. “ I by no means made any of the final decisions but I was asked. These things are all enhancements to our arena. The ribbon things around the arena, the new boards, they are going to be awesome. These new seats will give it a little more of a pro atmosphere. ”

As for his team, Pelphrey acknowledged awaiting a paperwork logjam at the NCAA Clearinghouse to certify the eligibility of freshman forward Joseph Henry and freshman point guard Courtney Fortson.

“ We’re still working with the Clearinghouse eligibility center, but certainly don’t anticipate any problems there, ” Pelphrey said. “ I’m very optimistic. ”