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Question re: Arkansas games at WMS
Posted on 12/3/13 at 12:13 pm
Posted on 12/3/13 at 12:13 pm
How divided is the state on this? I ask because I do a decent amount of political consulting/lobbying work with a group based in Little Rock who are all big Arkansas fans but seem to be pretty upset. Granted, I think they go to a few games in Fayetteville a year but they seem really mad about going down to one game at WMS. I told them I thought it was good for Arkansas as playing "home" games away from campus doesn't make much sense to me in this day and age. One of my associates sent this article, selecting the following passage, to me this morning saying that it reflected his feelings:
Arkansas lost something that can never be recaptured
I don't want to take anecdotal evidence based on a few people as gospel so I'm curious as to what the feeling seems to be in Little Rock and the surrounding area about the move.
quote:
Given the small population base and the low number of wealthy Arkansans, the University of Arkansas is and will continue to be a middle-of-the-pack program in football in the SEC with occasional good seasons. That’s not going to change regardless of where home games are played. There are certain economic realities that simply must be faced. To give Jeff Long his due, please understand that he’s forced to play with a short deck financially compared with most institutions in the conference. As a native Arkansan, I would love to see the Razorbacks be a consistent powerhouse in football. It would make each fall fun. Guess what? It’s not going to happen.
As you face the harsh reality that the state will never have a football program that contends for national championships year in and year out, what are you left with when you abandon the very traditions that once made you unique and drew national attention?
What are you left with when you jettison the tradition of splitting home games between two stadiums and just play them all at home like most everyone else?
What are you left with when you replace red helmets with gray helmets and red jerseys with gray jerseys at home because you’re told that “kids are different these days?”
Arkansas lost something that can never be recaptured
I don't want to take anecdotal evidence based on a few people as gospel so I'm curious as to what the feeling seems to be in Little Rock and the surrounding area about the move.
11
Posted on 12/3/13 at 12:16 pm to Politiceaux
I'm in a LR suburb and I agree with this move. It's much, much easier to get to Fayetteville now than it used to be and we'll be adding Jerry World back in the rotation. Think if we had 2 in WMS and 1 in Jerry World....it kind of sucks for the season ticket holders who pay a lot of money.
We lost money playing at WMS and no matter what any of them say, that's the bottom line.
We lost money playing at WMS and no matter what any of them say, that's the bottom line.
Posted on 12/3/13 at 12:22 pm to DC RaiseHerBack
i agree with dc who agrees with the move. i'm a bit nostalgic about war memorial but i'm for the move because it makes sense.
Posted on 12/3/13 at 12:33 pm to DC RaiseHerBack
quote:That makes sense. How long does it take you to get from where you live to Fayetteville on a game day?
It's much, much easier to get to Fayetteville now than it used to be and we'll be adding Jerry World back in the rotation. Think if we had 2 in WMS and 1 in Jerry World....it kind of sucks for the season ticket holders who pay a lot of money.
Posted on 12/3/13 at 12:39 pm to Politiceaux
quote:
I don't want to take anecdotal evidence based on a few people as gospel so I'm curious as to what the feeling seems to be in Little Rock and the surrounding area about the move.
Age is the biggest divider on the issue. People over 35 tend to be much more strongly 'keep the games in LR'-- they grew up with the biggest games largely being played in WMS.
The under 35 crowd isn't blinded by sentiment, and while many regret it, they acknowledge the inevitability of all the games returning to campus, and often the necessity of it.
Posted on 12/3/13 at 12:40 pm to Politiceaux
About 3 hours but it's easy driving. It used to be through the damn mountains and take damn near 4 1/2.
Posted on 12/3/13 at 12:42 pm to Politiceaux
4 hours. 2 to LR. I'd rather go to Fayetteville any day of the week.
Posted on 12/3/13 at 12:46 pm to BoardReader
quote:That makes sense. These guys range from early 30's to mid 50's.
Age is the biggest divider on the issue. People over 35 tend to be much more strongly 'keep the games in LR'-- they grew up with the biggest games largely being played in WMS.
The under 35 crowd isn't blinded by sentiment, and while many regret it, they acknowledge the inevitability of all the games returning to campus, and often the necessity of it.
Posted on 12/3/13 at 12:52 pm to hawgndodge
quote:Primarily due to the city itself, the stadium or a combination?
4 hours. 2 to LR. I'd rather go to Fayetteville any day of the week.
Posted on 12/3/13 at 12:58 pm to Politiceaux
I've got some great memories at WMS but the place is a dump and it's time to move on.
Posted on 12/3/13 at 12:59 pm to Politiceaux
quote:Not true at all, but ok.
To give Jeff Long his due, please understand that he’s forced to play with a short deck financially compared with most institutions in the conference.
Posted on 12/3/13 at 1:02 pm to Drewbie
quote:
Not true at all, but ok.
i didn't even notice that at first- that dude doesn't even know what he's talking about at all.
Posted on 12/3/13 at 1:04 pm to piggilicious
shite, I didn't either. WE PO?!
Posted on 12/3/13 at 1:10 pm to BoardReader
quote:
Age is the biggest divider on the issue. People over 35 tend to be much more strongly 'keep the games in LR'-- they grew up with the biggest games largely being played in WMS.
The under 35 crowd isn't blinded by sentiment, and while many regret it, they acknowledge the inevitability of all the games returning to campus, and often the necessity of it.
Well said
Internally, our fan base likes to poke each other with the GSD, but at the end of the day, we are one Arkansas.
Posted on 12/3/13 at 1:11 pm to Politiceaux
Financially, our athletic department does fine. That article is stupid.
But there is a divide and it seems strongest this way:
Non-alum, Central and Southern Arkansas - Generally favor keeping two games in WMS
Alumni living in Central and Southern Arkansas - pretty even split between keeping WMS games and getting rid of them.
Northwestern Arkansas regardless of affiliation - Move all the games to Fayetteville for good.
But there is a divide and it seems strongest this way:
Non-alum, Central and Southern Arkansas - Generally favor keeping two games in WMS
Alumni living in Central and Southern Arkansas - pretty even split between keeping WMS games and getting rid of them.
Northwestern Arkansas regardless of affiliation - Move all the games to Fayetteville for good.
This post was edited on 12/3/13 at 1:14 pm
Posted on 12/3/13 at 1:20 pm to wmr
quote:That makes sense. These guys all graduated from UA so I guess they're in the split camp.
But there is a divide and it seems strongest this way:
Non-alum, Central and Southern Arkansas - Generally favor keeping two games in WMS
Alumni living in Central and Southern Arkansas - pretty even split between keeping WMS games and getting rid of them.
Northwestern Arkansas regardless of affiliation - Move all the games to Fayetteville for good.
Posted on 12/3/13 at 1:24 pm to Politiceaux
quote:
There are certain economic realities that simply must be faced. To give Jeff Long his due, please understand that he’s forced to play with a short deck financially compared with most institutions in the conference.
This is so wrong that it's laughable.
See? I just lol'd.
Posted on 12/3/13 at 1:27 pm to Politiceaux
i think i'd up that age range from the earlier post to 45+ actually.
and
i think that's maybe a bit broad stroked. maybe education and financial stability have something to do with it too? a question not a lash out.
and
quote:
Non-alum, Central and Southern Arkansas -- Generally favor keeping two games in WMS
i think that's maybe a bit broad stroked. maybe education and financial stability have something to do with it too? a question not a lash out.
Posted on 12/3/13 at 1:28 pm to Stonehog
quote:I quit reading when I saw that. The guy clearly doesn't have a clue.
This is so wrong that it's laughable.
Posted on 12/3/13 at 1:33 pm to Politiceaux
LR is a dumpster. Every tailgate I've ever had in LR I've had something stolen, someone fall drunk into my tailgate or someone drunk stumbling past me coming or going to the stadium.
Fayetteville is just an overall better experience. The stadium and facilities are something to be proud of.
I'm embarrassed every time we havea televised game in LR.
My seats in LR are 100x better than in Fayetteville. It's just time.it's been time.
Fayetteville is just an overall better experience. The stadium and facilities are something to be proud of.
I'm embarrassed every time we havea televised game in LR.
My seats in LR are 100x better than in Fayetteville. It's just time.it's been time.
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