Public Invited to Football Center Groundbreaking

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FAYETTEVILLE – Fans are invited to join Razorback Athletics for the official groundbreaking ceremony for the new University of Arkansas football center on Friday, Nov. 4, at 3 p.m. on the football practice fields south of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long will be joined by Chancellor G. David Gearhart, Arkansas head football coach Bobby Petrino and Donald W. Reynolds Foundation Trustees Chairman Fred W. Smith for the festivities.

Fans attending the ceremony should park in Lots 72 and 73 along the west side of Razorback Road. Those lots have been reserved for the special event and parking spots will be available at no charge to the public. Normal campus parking restrictions will apply to all other parking lots in the area.

The $28 million football center 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 celebrating the tradition of Razorback Football. The football center will be constructed immediately south of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium adjacent to the Walker Family Training Center. Football practice fields currently at that location would be re-located to the south side of the Walker Family Training Center. The football center and full practice facility is estimated to cost $35 million. More than $30 million has been raised for the project including a $10 million gift from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation as part of a challenge grant.

The following day Arkansas hosts South Carolina in a nationally televised game at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Kickoff for the Hogs and Gamecocks is set for 6:15 p.m. CT and will be televised by ESPN.