From The Desk Of Your AD

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Greetings Fellow Razorbacks!

I want to welcome you to the first installment of periodic updates on your Arkansas Razorbacks. The world of intercollegiate athletics moves quickly and there is a lot that goes on day-to-day with our program. I want to make sure you are informed of what’s happening with the Hogs.

As I complete my first full month in Fayetteville, there are so many exciting things I am learning about our program, our university and our state. Each and every day, I am reminded of the tremendous opportunities we have here at the University of Arkansas to field one of the most competitive athletics programs in the nation while helping our student-athletes graduate and achieve personal growth.

Certainly, one of the first things I wanted to explore was the progress of our ongoing Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium Renovation and North End Zone Addition. Shortly after I arrived, I heard from some of our fans concerned that the project was behind schedule and over budget.

After reviewing the details of the project, I can with great confidence state that neither of those statements are accurate. The project is on schedule and remains on pace to finish within the $160 million total project budget. In fact, as of the end of the 2017 calendar year we had spent $63 million of the allotted budget on the overall project. That was reassuring to me and I hope it will be to you as well. We are excited about opening the renovated Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018 against Eastern Illinois.

Throughout the remainder of this process, we will continue to update our Board of Trustees, President Donald Bobbitt and Chancellor Joseph Steinmetz. In addition, I want to begin to share those same updates with you and make them available in a public forum on the project website DWRRS.com. You are the lifeblood of our program and have made these important renovations possible. I encourage you to visit this page to review the most recent and archived updates to the Board of Trustees.

Understandably, much has been made about the new suites, clubs and seating areas created in the renovation. Any time new elements are introduced they often garner a large share of the attention. But when you talk about the most significant impact of the renovation, there is no question what stands out is for the benefit of all fans.

When we open the gates for the 2018 football season, Razorback fans, for the first time ever, will be able to walk the entire stadium from north to south, from east to west, all on multiple concourses and via connection points throughout the stadium. Previous renovations and additions increased the stadium capacity, but movement between areas of the stadium remained difficult.

New entrances on the North end will increase the number of gates available for entry and provide access to fans approaching the stadium from that direction. The additional entry points will provide options to enter the stadium from any direction allowing fans an opportunity to enter gates most convenient to them. Our goal is to make your game day experience more efficient and more enjoyable and I believe these additions will greatly enhance your visit.

The renovation and north end zone addition also presents us an opportunity to remedy a challenge that was created by the incremental expansion of our stadium. After visiting with our Department of Athletics team, I began to understand that the current section numbering is inconsistent and confusing to many patrons, especially those that only attend a game or two annually. The north end zone addition, presents us the timely opportunity to solve that problem and renumber the east and south sides of the stadium. When you go through the renewal process and most importantly, when you visit our stadium this fall you will find that the stadium sections are now in numerical order throughout every level.

We know for those fans who have committed that section, row and seat number to memory, this will be an adjustment. Our staff is here to answer any questions and alleviate any concerns you might have about these modifications. I invite you to visit the link below, where you can see what the previous section was and what the new section will be.

While our season opener is still more than seven months away, Razorback Football is full steam ahead. Or as Coach Chad Morris puts it, we are in the Left Lane with the Hammer Down. Coach Morris has completed his staff and is working the country in advance of the second National Signing Day in February. Beyond that, spring practice is on the horizon and continued preparation for the 2018 season.

One thing that has become abundantly clear to Coach Morris and me is the importance of the Razorbacks throughout the state. From every corner and region, people are Calling the Hogs. To better connect our new staff and program across the state this Spring, Coach Morris and I have decided that we will be taking the spring game to War Memorial Stadium on April 7.

This will provide an opportunity for Razorback fans in Central Arkansas to meet Coach Morris and his team and for each of us to get to know you. While staging an off-campus spring game is not traditionally permissible per conference guidelines, we appreciate the Southeastern Conference accommodating our request. The change in venue will also benefit the ongoing construction at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

In addition to the traditional spring game in Central Arkansas, we are planning a family friendly event in Northwest Arkansas as well. Many more details are to come, but I wanted to share with you some of the exciting things to be looking forward to this spring.

Until then, I look forward to joining you and the rest of the Razorback Nation as we cheer on our student-athletes competing for our university and our state. And as always, thank you for your passionate support of the Razorbacks!

Go Hogs!

Hunter

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