A discussion about choosing an architect for proposed athletic facilities that would be part of a master plan at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville sparked opposition by a University of Arkansas System trustee.
John Tyson expressed concern over the estimated $20 million price tag of one of the buildings that will be included in the athletic master plan that Athletic Director Jeff Long pitched to trustees during their meeting Friday afternoon in Little Rock.
The board, which oversees operations for UA campuses across the state, gave the university initial approval for the athletic department’s master plan in November.
The plan is expected to cost $250,000 to $500,000, which Long said would be paid for with television-related revenue from the athletic department.
At Friday’s meeting, trustees approved the selection of Populous, a Kansas City, Mo., firm, along with two Arkansas companies that joined in the Populous proposal as the architect, but only after Tyson and Long had a several-minutes-long conversation about the money.
“This is just the plan - the architect,” Long told the trustees. He and some of the trustees joined the meeting via conference call because of icy weather.
Tyson responded, “If this is just a selection for an architect, why is there a suggested number for $20 million in here for a project?”
Long explained that in requesting the master plan, there are three buildings that he wants included. One would be a “football infrastructure,” which will include a suite for the coach-ing staff, meeting rooms, a video-analysis office, training and banquet rooms, and a lobby equipped with museum-quality displays.
It has not yet been decided whether that would be a new building or an expansion of the existing football facilities.
In addition, Long said, the plan will include a basketball practice facility and a “student development center,” which would include places for academic study, “life skills” and a dining facility.
Each facility has an estimated cost of $10 million to $20 million, Long said, adding that none has been approved to be built.
“Those are just rough numbers of what those three facilities would cost generally,” he said. “The planning process will give us a better idea.”
He said nothing will be built unless the university isable to secure private funds or bond funds to cover the cost and it gets board approval.
“You want to spend $20 million for 450 students?” Tyson asked. “Is there any way that facility could be used for a broader range of students?”
Long said he has talked to student affairs about sharing the dining facility, but nothing has been decided. He also said the $20 million figure might be high.
But Tyson remained bothered by the potential cost.
“I struggle with that, I really do. I think it’s great. I think athletics are important, but there are a lot of other folks who need help around study hall,” he said.
Long countered, “I struggle with the fact that we have the lowest student-athlete graduation rate in the Southeastern Conference.
“We have not had a commitment to student-athlete academics here, in my humble opinion, and this is a facility we will need in the future.”
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 7 on 01/30/2010