How about the Trojans football game last night? No, not the Southern Cal Trojans, but maybe the University of Arkansas-Little Rock in the future. KATV Channel 7's Janelle Lilly wrote about the UALR students gathering a petition asking for a football program and turning it over to the athletic department with over 1,000 signatures.

A new use for War Memorial Stadium could be coming in the future.

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The UALR athletic department is reportedly currently doing a feasibility study on creating a football program. Lilly estimated the startup fee would be $15 to $20 million and include a practice facility and double the staff of the athletic department. Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola told Channel 7 News he knows a place where the proposed team can play.

"It would be a great great opportunity to give a good use to War Memorial Stadium and continue the traditions for which it was built," Stodola said.

The Arkansas Razorbacks currently have a contract signed in 2013 to continue to play one game a season in War Memorial through the 2018 season. Arkansas will start its 2017 season there against Florida A&M on Thursday, Aug. 31, at 7 p.m. CT. The current contract calls for an SEC game to be played there in 2018 so it's expected the Vanderbilt contest will be there.

The question of if the Razorbacks will continue to play in Little Rock following the 2018 season continues to be a hot topic. Several factors seem to be working against the Hogs continuing playing there including an expanded Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium and a contract to play Texas A&M in AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

Arkansas has had a long history of playing games in Little Rock and Arkansas Vice-Chancellor and Athletic Director Jeff Long will consider the history as well as many other factors before making any final decision.

War Memorial Stadium finished construction in 1947 and had a seating capacity of 31,075. On Sept. 19, 1948, the stadium was formally dedicated by former Arkansas Razorback and Medal of Honor recipient Maurice Britt. Britt dedicated the stadium to "the memory of her native sons and daughters who have given so much that we might have our freedom." Following the dedication ceremony, the first game at the stadium commenced, where the Razorbacks defeated Abilene Christian by a score of 40–6.

The current capacity at War Memorial is 54,120. In recent years for various reasons the crowds at Razorback games there have dwindled and not packed the stadium. The Razorbacks game against Alcorn State in 2016 drew 46,988 fans.

The last SEC game played there was in 2014 when No. 10 Georgia built up a 38-6 halftime lead and then went on to down the Hogs 45-32. The crowd that day was 54,959 proving that fans will still show up there for an SEC game. The Hogs played Toledo there in 2015 and it drew 49,591 fans. Arkansas is 150-60-4 in War Memorial Stadium over the span of 69 years.

The Trojans are a member of the Sun Belt Conference which also includes Arkansas State. If a football program is given the approval it's uncertain when their first varsity season would be.

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