The University of Arkansas Razorbacks football team will play only one game per season at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock through the 2018 season.
Arkansas had played two games at the Little Rock stadium. The Razorbacks beat Samford and lost to Mississippi State in overtime in their two games at War Memorial this season.
Of the five games scheduled to be played in Little Rock, two of the five must be SEC games.
Arkansas will host Georgia on Oct. 18 in the lone game at War Memorial Stadium in the 2014 season.
“I am appreciative of Chairman Kevin Crass and the members of the War Memorial Stadium Commission for working in partnership with the University of Arkansas to come to an agreement that extends our commitment for two additional years while allowing us to address future scheduling challenges,” Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long. “The new agreement will put the University of Arkansas in a better position to respond to scheduling challenges. Our partnership enabled us to work together to reach a mutually beneficial arrangement that provides the Commission with the financial resources it had anticipated to pay off the remaining debt for their recent renovation of the stadium. With this amendment, we have addressed those priorities and extended our agreement two years through 2018.”
Arkansas’ upcoming series with Texas A&M at AT&T Stadium in Arlington was one reason why fans started to question the need for two games in Little Rock.
“We are pleased that we have come to an agreement that will ensure that the University of Arkansas will continue to play football games at War Memorial Stadium through 2018,” Crass said. “War Memorial Stadium and the Razorback football program have a long and rich history. The football program would not have established its statewide following without War Memorial Stadium. Additionally, War Memorial Stadium would not have enjoyed its sustained success without the Razorback football program. This is the essence of a true partnership. Recently, we learned that the University had a need to solve a scheduling problem and we had a desire to extend the contract beyond 2016. As partners, we were able to come to a result that helps both the Razorbacks and War Memorial Stadium. The Commission and I want to express our appreciation to Jeff Long for his openness to this creative solution.”
Arkansas pays War Memorial Stadium $400,000 and will pay an additional $75,000 per game for the next three years. Arkansas will not have to pay the $75,000 ‘rental’ fee during the 2017 and 2018 seasons
