Donors to UA athletics get grand view of stadium
Posted on Sunday, May 4, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Northwest_Profiles/224750/
FAYETTEVILLE — With the Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium’s 3, 210-square-foot video board in front of him and the rolling Ozark hills behind him, University of Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long invited athletics donors to behold “the Razorback miracle” — what he deemed some of the best athletic facilities in the country.
“This spot is inspiring to me,” Long said from behind a podium overlooking the stadium from the fifth-floor observation deck, high above the south end zone. The UA athletic department hosted “Tailgate at the Top” the evening of April 26, prior to the Razorbacks’ annual redwhite scrimmage. Invitees included silver, gold and platinum members of the Broyles-Matthews Scholarship giving groups. Membership for silver members requires at least a $ 5, 000 donation. Platinum members give $ 20, 000 or more. The guest list also included the Razorbacks coaches ’ wives and families.
Long thanked members for their support and invited them to be a part of building new and improved facilities, plans for which “we’ll roll out in good time.”
Guests dined on a buffet of baby back ribs, sliced beef brisket, fried chicken, coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans and brownies before joining some 40, 200 other fans in cheering during the Hogs scrimmage. Some watched the game from the rooftop area, some went to their skyboxes and some elected to watch from the south outdoor club, which had been reserved for them.