SPRINGDALE -- A large crowd is expected tonight when Har-Ber High School opens its new football stadium against Conway High School.
The nearly 5,000-seat facility -- 3,600 on the home side and 1,280 on the visitors' -- is just west of the school at 300 Jones Ave.
School officials devised a parking plan to ease congestion and reduce confusion for fans attending the game. Plenty of free parking is available on the southeast and northeast side of the school. Parking on the west side of the stadium is reserved for those with handicapped tags, school administrators and game-day personnel such as referees, clock operators, ticket-takers and concession stand workers.
Fans approaching Har-Ber from the east on Sunset Avenue should turn right on Jones Avenue, according to school officials. Parking is available to the left, by the school's Performing Arts Center, and north of Wildcat Arena where basketball and volleyball games are held. Fans parking in these areas will have a short walk to either side of the stadium.
Parking will be blocked on Wildcat Road, which runs between the high school and the stadium. Only buses carrying the visiting football team and band members will be allowed in this area.
Fans with reserved parking permits should turn on Heroes Road from Har-Ber Avenue at Hellstern Middle School, north of the high school. There's limited parking available on the west side. Those without the correct permit will be asked to leave by parking attendants.
"This is the plan and if we have to make some tweaks for the next game, we'll do it," said Wayne Stehlik, athletic director for the Springdale School District. "There should be ample parking for the fans, and we wanted to make this as pedestrian-friendly as possible.
Har-Ber (0-2) and Conway (2-0) met in the playoffs last season, when the Wampus Cats eliminated the Wildcats 52-42. Conway enters the game ranked No. 4 and Har-Ber No. 7 in Class 7A by Hooten's Arkansas Football magazine.
Admission to the 7 p.m. game is $5 for adults and $3 for students. There are two ticket booths on the west side of the stadium and one ticket booth on the east side.
NW News on 09/19/2014