Bud Walton Arena
| Bud Walton Arena | |
|---|---|
| The Basketball Palace of Mid-America | |
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| Location | 1270 W Leroy Pond Drive Fayetteville, AR 72701-5570 |
| Broke ground | April 1992 |
| Opened | November 29, 1993 |
| Owner | University of Arkansas |
| Operator | University of Arkansas |
| Surface | Hardwood Floor |
| Construction cost | $30 Million ($45.6 million in 2012 dollars[1]) |
| Architect | Rosser International Inc. |
| Capacity | 19,368 |
| Record attendance | 20,320 (01-26-1997 vs. Kentucky) |
| Tenants | |
| Arkansas Razorbacks men's and women's basketball teams | |
Bud Walton Arena (also known as the Basketball Palace of Mid-America) is the home to the men's and women's basketball teams of the University of Arkansas, known as the Razorbacks. It is located on the campus of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas and has a seating capacity of 19,368, which is the fifth largest for an on-campus arena in the United States.
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[edit] Construction
The arena is named after James "Bud" Walton, co-founder of Wal-Mart, who donated a large portion of the funds needed to build the arena. Walton purportedly gave 15 million, or around half of the construction cost.[2] Construction of the arena took only 18 months, a short time considering the size of the undertaking.
When it was built, it was touted as a larger version of Barnhill Arena, the team's former home.
[edit] Early years
The arena has been the home to the Razorbacks since November of 1993; the men's team won the national championship[3] in the arena's first season of operation. The previous arena in which both teams played, Barnhill Arena, was renovated into a volleyball-specific facility and now houses the Razorback women volleyball team.[4] Bud Walton Arena has more seats in less space than in any other facility of the same type anywhere in the world.[5]
In its early years, Nolan Richardson's teams frequently attracted standing-room-only crowds of over 20,000.
[edit] Improvements
The past few years have brought a number of enhancements and improvements to the arena. In 2004, a new custom scoreboard was debuted which is 24 feet, three inches wide by 22 feet tall, features four video screens, each 12 feet, six inches wide by eight feet, 10 inches tall. (Also, there is an LED ring at the top that is used to display game statistics.) In 2005, the locker rooms were remodeled, and a lounge and meeting area were added. Prior to the 2008-09 season, the University of Arkansas expanded the arena by eight luxury suites, raising the total to 47. In addition, courtside seating was added, the student section was reconfigured, and press seating was moved to the East side of the arena behind the basket. LED ribbon boards were also installed around the ring between the upper and lower decks and were first used during Arkansas's upset of #4 Oklahoma on December 30, 2008.[6] The addition of these improvements expanded seating to 19,368.
[edit] Statistics of Bud Walton Arena
Average attendance (16 seasons ranked in the top 15 in the country): 17,160
Attendance Record: 20,320 vs. Kentucky January 26, 1997
Attendance Chart (men) for every year Bud Walton Arena has been in operation[6]
| Season | Overall Record | SEC Record | Overall Attendance | Average Attendance | Rank Nationally |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–94 | 16–0 (1.000) | 8–0 (1.000) | 322,146 | 20,134 | 4th |
| 1994–95 | 14–1 (.933) | 7–1 (.875) | 301,212 | 20,081 | 4th |
| 1995–96 | 14–4 (.778) | 6–2 (.750) | 346,698 | 19,261 | 5th |
| 1996–97 | 15–3 (.833) | 6–2 (.750) | 329,540 | 18,308 | 5th |
| 1997–98 | 15–0 (1.000) | 8–0 (1.000) | 291,089 | 19,406 | 4th |
| 1998–99 | 14–2 (.875) | 6–2 (.750) | 292,704 | 18,294 | 5th |
| 1999–00 | 9–5 (.643) | 5–3 (.625) | 249,300 | 17,807 | 6th |
| 2000–01 | 16–2 (.889) | 7–1 (.875) | 292,057 | 16,225 | 9th |
| 2001–02 | 11–5 (.688) | 5–3 (.625) | 241,033 | 15,065 | 13th |
| 2002–03 | 8–8 (.500) | 3–5 (.375) | 236,638 | 14,790 | 14th |
| 2003–04 | 10–6 (.625) | 4–4 (.500) | 236,676 | 14,792 | 13th |
| 2004–05 | 13–3 (.813) | 5–3 (.625) | 252,608 | 15,788 | 9th |
| 2005–06 | 15–1 (.938) | 7–1 (.875) | 239,336 | 14,958 | 12th |
| 2006–07 | 13–3 (.813) | 5–3 (.625) | 267,520 | 16,720 | 9th |
| 2007–08 | 15–1 (.938) | 7–1 (.875) | 274,360 | 17,148 | 8th |
| 2008–09 | 12–6 (.667) | 2–6 (.250) | 288,781 | 16,043 | 11th |
| 2009–10 | 11-8 (.579) | 5-3 (.625) | 256,667 | 13,509 | 17th |
| Totals | 221–58 (.792) | 96–40 (.706) | 4,656,789 | 16,691 | Avg. Rank: 8th |
[edit] References
- ^ Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–2008. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
- ^ Old Model, New Money Scout.com, accessed January 13, 2008
- ^ Arkansas hits Hog Heaven With NCAA Title The Washington Post, accessed January 13, 2008
- ^ Barnhill Arena: Home of the Lady Razorbacks University of Arkansas, accessed January 13th, 2008
- ^ Bud Walton Arena University of Arkansas, accessed January 13, 2008
- ^ a b http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=187020&SPSID=32015&SPID=2421&DB_OEM_ID=6100
[edit] External links
- Bud Walton Arena overview by RazorbackFacilities.com (official facilities site of Arkansas men's athletics)
- Google Maps Satellite/Map of Bud Walton Arena
- Bud Walton Arena overview at LadyBacks.com (official site of Arkansas women's athletics)
- FayettevilleTourism.com information on Bud Walton Arena
- RateItAll.com Rating of Bud Walton Arena
Coordinates: 36°03′41″N 94°10′41″W / 36.061518°N 94.1781877°W
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| Preceded by Barnhill Arena |
Home of Arkansas Razorbacks basketball 1993 – present |
Succeeded by Current |
