Wally Hall says FAMU may be the last ever game in Little Rock? Buyout Yes or No

[RedSkiesAtNightHog]

Considering the palace of a football stadium that will exist in Fayetteville in September of 2018, this buyout seems like a reasonable option.  Plus, do you risk an SEC loss to Vanderbilt in Little Rock when you could have played in a loud 80,000 seat (standing room only tickets maxed out) enclosed RRS?

http://amp.wholehogsports.com/news/2017/aug/27/thursday-night-the-hogs-last-lr-hurrah-/

[PorkRinds]

I believe it will be the last game at WMS.

[factchecker]

Why is the fan from the picture thowing a hook em' horns sign?

[ricepig]

Why is the fan from the picture thowing a hook em' horns sign?

She's in a gang.......

[NotSoFastMyFriend]

Why is the fan from the picture thowing a hook em' horns sign?

Red Wolves fan?

[go hogues]

He's been saying that since the Georgia game. I think they'll let it play out and next year vs. Vandy will be it.

[ErieHog]

One can hope.

[rhames]

Vandy will be the last game

[PonderinHog]

Well, I hope they win one for Wally...

[hobhog]

I think Vandy next year will be last, but will make sure to enjoy this one as much as possible in case it's the last. I will miss tailgating with my Little Rock buds...

[Sed76]

Hopefully, they at least play there next year one last time. Announce to everyone it will be the last game and make it a celebration instead of a funeral. Before the game play classic clips of some of the great moments that have occurred there over the years. Give everyone a chance to say goodbye and move on.

[daprospecta]

One game guys. Just one game.  A game that wouldn't fill half the stadium in NWA. Anything more than one game is too much but one game is just fine.

[Dark Helmet Hog]

Last game? Please, for the love of God, just put it out of it's misery.

[LZH]

Hopefully, they at least play there next year one last time. Announce to everyone it will be the last game and make it a celebration instead of a funeral. Before the game play classic clips of some of the great moments that have occurred there over the years. Give everyone a chance to say goodbye and move on.

Agree

[Steef]

Well, they've done everything they possibly could, to kill attendance.

Last SEC game I can remember there was Georgia. Did we play MSU there after that?

Since then, nothing but rent-a-wins.

And THIS one is on a weeknight. When you consider the WHOLE concept of WMS, was to make games more accessible to southern Hog fans....putting it on a Thursday kinda shoots that in the foot. Anyone who does want to come, has to take a four day weekend.

I played in that stadium. For Hall High School. It has memories.

But it's time to move on.

[ricepig]

One game guys. Just one game.  A game that wouldn't fill half the stadium in NWA. Anything more than one game is too much but one game is just fine.

Yes, this game won't fill half of RRS, it should be the last game.

[bythelake]

Hopefully, they at least play there next year one last time. Announce to everyone it will be the last game and make it a celebration instead of a funeral. Before the game play classic clips of some of the great moments that have occurred there over the years. Give everyone a chance to say goodbye and move on.

Agree, detest the WMS games now.  Enjoyed a lot of them in the past.  I will certainly make it for that last celebration game.  Great idea.

[sowmonella]

One of the worse columns Wally has written in quite a while. A very obvious backhand at the U of A (FAYETTEVILLE). I normally support Wally on this board but he took a dump on this one.

[WilsonHog]

One of the worse columns Wally has written in quite a while. A very obvious backhand at the U of A (FAYETTEVILLE). I normally support Wally on this board but he took a dump on this one.

Somebody send Wally a case of Vaseline so he can salve his chapped ass.

[factchecker]

Well, they've done everything they possibly could, to kill attendance.

Last SEC game I can remember there was Georgia. Did we play MSU there after that?

We played Georgia there in 2014.  Mississippi State was in 2013.

Since then, nothing but rent-a-wins.

The rent-a-win killing attendance argument doesn't hold up when you consider that the worst attended game in WMS was against LSU in 1996.

http://www.wholehogsports.com/news/2013/sep/08/samford-attendance-lowest-11-years/

Here is a look at the 10 smallest attendances at War Memorial Stadium since 1992.

22,329 - LSU, 1996
42,214 - Troy State, 2002
43,982 - LSU, 2000
45,633 - LSU, 1994
46,080 - SMU, 1992
46,341 - Louisiana Tech, 1996
47,348 - Samford, 2013
49,178 - South Carolina, 1997
48,816 - Northeast Louisiana, 1997
50,075 - Mississippi State, 1993

Last years attendance vs. Alcorn (46,988) had more than three of the LSU games in WMS.

[factchecker]

Lmao. 80k sellout vs vandy? In what universe?

I don't think it's likely but we sold out vs. Texas State last season.

https://twitter.com/ArkRazorbacks/status/776564916387917825

[Hawgboy64]

Why blame the University? The city of Little Rock let NLR get the basketball and baseball stadiums with no real effort to keep them. No real effort to keep football. The city fathers put their money and support in the Clinton Library, River Market and Riverfest.  The U of A made great business decisions and did what was best for the program.

[factchecker]

Why blame the University? The city of Little Rock let NLR get the basketball and baseball stadiums with no real effort to keep them. No real effort to keep football. The city fathers put their money and support in the Clinton Library, River Market and Riverfest.  The U of A made great business decisions and did what was best for the program.

Riverfest was cancelled after 40 years of operation.

[Hawgboy64]

Riverfest was cancelled after 40 years of operation.

And will lose the Razorback football games after 70 years.

[LZH]

Why is the fan from the picture thowing a hook em' horns sign?

Illuminati.....that's why WMS is dying out......

[hobhog]

Why blame the University? The city of Little Rock let NLR get the basketball and baseball stadiums with no real effort to keep them. No real effort to keep football. The city fathers put their money and support in the Clinton Library, River Market and Riverfest.  The U of A made great business decisions and did what was best for the program.

Good grief.....

[PonderinHog]

Speaking of buyouts, how much is Wally's

[Mike Irwin]

Considering the palace of a football stadium that will exist in Fayetteville in September of 2018, this buyout seems like a reasonable option.  Plus, do you risk an SEC loss to Vanderbilt in Little Rock when you could have played in a loud 80,000 seat (standing room only tickets maxed out) enclosed RRS?

http://amp.wholehogsports.com/news/2017/aug/27/thursday-night-the-hogs-last-lr-hurrah-/

It's been a while since I asked but the last thing I was told is they really don't want to replace the LR game with a Fayetteville game. They're looking for non conference games in pro stadiums. It might be hit or miss the first few years but seven Fayetteville games is too much travel for fans outside of NWA. There are six this year. That's as many as they want.

[ricepig]

It's been a while since I asked but the last thing I was told is they really don't want to replace the LR game with a Fayetteville game. They're looking for non conference games in pro stadiums. It might be hit or miss the first few years but seven Fayetteville games is too much travel for fans outside of NWA. There are six this year. That's as many as they want.

So they expect the fan base to travel to Orlando, Houston, Atlanta, St. Louis, or Kansas City? Those $64,000 suites need 7 games, we'll play away in years we are the visitors at ATT.

[ricepig]

I love how an OBU grad is telling the university how they should make their decisions, lol.

http://www.wholehogsports.com/news/2017/aug/27/a-challenging-season-opener-20170827/

[Mike Irwin]

So they expect the fan base to travel to Orlando, Houston, Atlanta, St. Louis, or Kansas City? Those $64,000 suites need 7 games, we'll play away in years we are the visitors at ATT.

It's not about fans traveling. Those are money TV games. It's also about exposure for recruiting. Like I said they may have changed their minds since they announced this north endzone project but the last time I talked to anyone in the athletic department about an extra Fayetteville game they said seven games might be hard to sell.

[ricepig]

It's not about fans traveling. Those are money TV games. It's also about exposure for recruiting. Like I said they may have changed their minds since they announced this north endzone project but the last time I talked to anyone in the athletic department about an extra Fayetteville game they said seven games might be hard to sell.

Oh, I understand as a season ticket holder traveling from NEA, 7 games is taxing, but I figure they aren't worried about my welfare, haha.

[Karma]

We played Georgia there in 2014.  Mississippi State was in 2013.

The rent-a-win killing attendance argument doesn't hold up when you consider that the worst attended game in WMS was against LSU in 1996.

http://www.wholehogsports.com/news/2013/sep/08/samford-attendance-lowest-11-years/

Last years attendance vs. Alcorn (46,988) had more than three of the LSU games in WMS.

96 was an absolutely torrential downpour during  bad season.

[Steef]

We played Georgia there in 2014.  Mississippi State was in 2013.

The rent-a-win killing attendance argument doesn't hold up when you consider that the worst attended game in WMS was against LSU in 1996.

http://www.wholehogsports.com/news/2013/sep/08/samford-attendance-lowest-11-years/

Last years attendance vs. Alcorn (46,988) had more than three of the LSU games in WMS.

I stand corrected. Good post.

[majestic]

This U of A - Fayetteville stuff is getting ridiculous. Piss up a rope, Wally.

[RedSkiesAtNightHog]

Lmao. 80k sellout vs vandy? In what universe?

Lmao. 80k sellout vs vandy? In what universe?

Austin Allen leads the SEC in passing, Duvall Wally goes for 1500 yards!  The Paul Rhoads 3-4 works!  The 2017 Hogs finish 9-3 and then win a Bowl to go 10-3 on the year.  Cole Kelly looks great in frequent mop up duty and hope for 2018 is high.  If that scenario pans out, I could easily see 80,000 coming to every SEC game in Fayetteville! 

LMAO at your negativity!  Life is more fun when your optimistic!

[factchecker]

I love how an OBU grad is telling the university how they should make their decisions, lol.

http://www.wholehogsports.com/news/2017/aug/27/a-challenging-season-opener-20170827/

From the article:

Because of the huge influx of Texans on campus, some people now jokingly refer to the school as the University of Texas at Fayetteville.

For those who are concerned about the demographic breakdown of The University of Arkansas - here is the enrollment #s:

http://oir.uark.edu/students/enrollment-state.php

As of 2016 there was 27,194 total students attending The University of Arkansas in some capacity.

14,431 of those students were Arkansas residents.  5,511 were Texas residents.

The majority of our students are still from the state of Arkansas.

I'm not sure the role in increasing students from Texas has led to us having the lowest % of students assigned to remedial classes at 7.4%.

Here is the chart and link for those who want to know more:

http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2016/jan/30/colleges-remedial-students-decrease-201/

[Kevin]

so spent money to upgrade the stadium in Fayetteville, but don't play all home games there, because you want to play a&m in dallas, and another game in some pro stadium. yep, all about the money.  They could do that, and no spent the money on the stadium.

[Tusks]

I'm shocked that so many are shocked that UA SEC football is a money grab.

[woodhog14]

Well, they've done everything they possibly could, to kill attendance.

Last SEC game I can remember there was Georgia. Did we play MSU there after that?

Since then, nothing but rent-a-wins.

And THIS one is on a weeknight. When you consider the WHOLE concept of WMS, was to make games more accessible to southern Hog fans....putting it on a Thursday kinda shoots that in the foot. Anyone who does want to come, has to take a four day weekend.

I played in that stadium. For Hall High School. It has memories.

But it's time to move on.

It was moved to a weekenight because of TV, not the university.

[factchecker]

I'm shocked that so many are shocked that UA SEC football is a money grab.

Every football program is a money grab.  Take in consideration that we are the only self sufficient athletic program in state.  We are the only instate program who doesn't run their athletic department off of subsidies and student fees.  We have to make money to keep our non-revenue sports afloat.  Because of this we have to maximize profit.

This is part of the reason why there is a donation fee on some of the seats at WMS.  "Why should there be a donation fee if we only play one game?"  If you want us to play in WMS then you have to make up the difference for lost revenue and travel expenses.  There is also a donation fee for the single game played at Cowboys Stadium.  In fact it's much higher than the donation at WMS.

[ricepig]

so spent money to upgrade the stadium in Fayetteville, but don't play all home games there, because you want to play a&m in dallas, and another game in some pro stadium. yep, all about the money.  They could do that, and no spent the money on the stadium.

How many games do we have set for a pro stadium outside of ATT??......yeah, that's what I thought.........

[BadHog]

It was moved to a weekenight because of TV, not the university.

Yes because soooo many people will be watching...

[Sweet Feet]

If it is, then good. More momentum towards LR finally having a college football program of their own in UALR. The way the Hogs have stunk LR up the past 5 years, its probably time for them to stay in Fayetteville to give them more of a homefield advantage.

[majestic]

Yes because soooo many people will be watching...

As in, to get it televised.

[woodhog14]

Yes because soooo many people will be watching...

It was the SEC Network that asked to move it, and people will watch because people are ready for college football.

[Pig in the Pokey]

She's in a gang.......

piru

[factchecker]

If it is, then good. More momentum towards LR finally having a college football program of their own in UALR. The way the Hogs have stunk LR up the past 5 years, its probably time for them to stay in Fayetteville to give them more of a homefield advantage.

Whether or not we play in WMS might have little impact on the Trojan's ability to field a football program.  Their athletic department $ is already stretched thin. According to the USA Today finance report LRU made $11,993,856 in revenue for 2016.  Only $534,218 was from ticket sales.  $924,318 was from contributions. Compare that to the $3,837,889 collected from student fees.

http://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/finances/

If the Trojans add football they will have to find a way to balance scholarship #s with Title IX.  Little Rock U's students will have to pay an astronomical student fee (already one of the highest in state at $21.00 per credit hour) unless a big donor steps up and pays the millions needed to fund the programs.

[Steef]

It was moved to a weekenight because of TV, not the university.

Not the point.

Moving it to Thursday for any reason, damages the reason for having there at all.

[ricepig]

Not the point.

Moving it to Thursday for any reason, damages the reason for having there at all.

So it was ok to play the previous Thursday night games in LR?