Bud Walton Arena
{{short description|Indoor arena at the University of Arkansas}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Nolan Richardson Court at Bud Walton Arena
| nickname = Basketball Palace of Mid-America
| image = File:Bud Walton Arena.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=250|zoom=15|type=point}}
| fullname =
| location = 1270 Nolan Richardson Drive
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701-5570
| coordinates = {{coord|36.061518|-94.178188|region:US_type:landmark|display=it}}
| broke_ground = March 28, 1992
| built =
| opened = November 29, 1993
| renovated =
| expanded =
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = University of Arkansas
| operator = University of Arkansas
| surface = Hardwood Floor
| construction_cost = $30 Million
(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|30000000|1993}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
| architect = Rosser International
Mott, Mobley, McGowan & Griffin{{cite news |title=Everybody Wants a Seat in Bud's Building|first=George|last=Waldon|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Everybody+wants+a+seat+in+Bud's+building.-a013792241|work=Arkansas Business|date=March 29, 1993|access-date=August 14, 2013}}
| structural engineer =
| services engineer =
| general_contractor = Huber, Hunt & Nichiols
| project_manager =
| main_contractors =
| former_names =
| tenants = Arkansas Razorbacks men's and women's basketball teams (1993-present)
| seating_capacity = 19,368 (2009–present)
19,200 (1993–2009)
| record_attendance = 20,344 (November 29, 2023 vs. Duke)
}}
File:Kentucky at Arkansas Men's basketball 2023.jpg
Bud Walton Arena (also known as the Basketball Palace of Mid-America) is the home to the men's and women's basketball teams of the University of Arkansas, known as the Razorbacks. It is located on the campus of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and has a seating capacity of 19,368, which is the fifth largest for an on-campus arena in the United States.
The arena features Bud Walton Arena Razorback Sports Museum on the ground level, which houses a history of Razorback basketball, track and field, baseball, tennis and golf.
Construction
The arena is named after James "Bud" Walton, co-founder of Walmart, who donated a large portion of the funds needed to build the arena. Walton purportedly gave $15 million, or around half of the construction cost.{{cite web|title=Old Model, New Money|url=http://arkansas.scout.com/2/659494.html|publisher=Scout.com|access-date=January 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220141915/http://arkansas.scout.com/2/659494.html#|archive-date=2008-12-20|url-status=dead}} Construction of the arena took only 18 months, a short time considering the size of the undertaking.
When it was built, it was touted as a larger version of Barnhill Arena, the team's former home. In hopes of recreating the formidable home-court advantage the Razorbacks enjoyed at Barnhill, architect Rosser International built an arena that, as the company put it, had "more seats in less space than in any other facility of the same type anywhere in the world."{{cite web|title=Bud Walton Arena|url=http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=6100&ATCLID=187020|publisher=University of Arkansas Athletic Department|access-date=January 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104220456/http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=6100&ATCLID=187020|archive-date=November 4, 2013|url-status=dead}}
Early years
The arena has been the home to the Razorbacks since November 1993; the men's team won the national championship{{cite news |title=Arkansas hits Hog Heaven With NCAA Title|first=Steve|last=Berkowitz|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/longterm/memories/final4/articles/final94.htm|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=April 5, 1994|access-date=January 13, 2008}} in the arena's first season of operation. The basketball team's former home, Barnhill Arena was renovated into a volleyball-specific facility and now houses the Razorback volleyball and gymnastics teams, along with hosting high school graduations.{{cite web|title=Barnhill Arena: Home of the Lady Razorbacks|url=http://www.ladybacks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=2300&ATCLID=68524|publisher=University of Arkansas Athletic Department|access-date=January 13, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060420001417/http://www.ladybacks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=2300|archive-date=April 20, 2006}}
In its early years, Nolan Richardson's teams frequently attracted standing-room-only crowds of over 20,000.
Improvements
Since its opening, there have been a number of enhancements and improvements to the arena. In 2004, a new custom scoreboard debuted, which is {{convert|24|ft|3|in}} wide by {{convert|22|ft}} tall, features four video screens, each {{convert|12|ft|6|in}} wide by {{convert|8|ft|10|in}} tall. (There is also a LED ring at the top that is used to display game statistics.) In 2005, the locker rooms were remodeled, and a lounge and meeting area were added.
Prior to the 2008–09 season, eight luxury suites were added, raising the total to 47. In addition, courtside seating was added, the student section was reconfigured, and press seating was moved to the east side of the arena behind the basket. In 2008, LED ribbon boards were installed around the ring between the upper and lower decks.{{cite web|title=Basketball at Bud Walton Arena|url=http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=187020&SPSID=32015&SPID=2421&DB_OEM_ID=6100|publisher=University of Arkansas Athletic Department|date=September 17, 2013|access-date=November 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112190621/http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=187020&SPSID=32015&SPID=2421&DB_OEM_ID=6100|archive-date=November 12, 2013|url-status=dead}} The addition of these improvements expanded seating to 19,368.
Prior to the 2013-14 season, the press seating was moved to the southeast corner of the bottom bowl, with its prior location being used for an expanded student section.
Nolan Richardson Court
On February 6, 2018, the University of Arkansas’s Associated Student Government Senate passed a resolution by Senator Clay Smith to encourage the University of Arkansas Athletic Department to name the court at the arena in honor of former Arkansas head coach Nolan Richardson.{{Cite web |date=2018-02-13 |title=UA students push Nolan Richardson Court |url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/feb/13/ua-students-push-richardson-court-20180/ |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=Arkansas Online |language=en}}
On March 28, 2019, the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees voted unanimously to name the court in honor of former coach Richardson.{{cite web|title=Nolan Richardson Court: Home To Razorback Basketball|url=https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/nolan-richardson-court-home-to-razorback-basketball/ |access-date=March 29, 2019 }}
Statistics of Bud Walton Arena
Attendance Record: 20,361 vs. Auburn, February 8, 2022.
Attendance Chart (men) for every year Bud Walton Arena has been in operation
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |
| style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Arkansas Razorbacks|color=white}};"|Season
! style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Arkansas Razorbacks|color=white}};"|Overall Record ! style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Arkansas Razorbacks|color=white}};"|SEC Record ! style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Arkansas Razorbacks|color=white}};"|Overall Attendance ! style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Arkansas Razorbacks|color=white}};"|Average Attendance ! style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Arkansas Razorbacks|color=white}};"|Rank Nationally |
|---|
| 1993–94
| 16–0 (1.000) | 8–0 (1.000) | 322,146 | 20,134 | 4th |
| 1994–95
| 14–1 (.933) | 7–1 (.875) | 301,212 | 20,081 | 4th |
| 1995–96
| 14–4 (.778) | 6–2 (.750) | 346,698 | 19,261 | 5th |
| 1996–97
| 15–3 (.833) | 6–2 (.750) | 329,540 | 18,308 | 5th |
| 1997–98
| 15–0 (1.000) | 8–0 (1.000) | 291,089 | 19,406 | 4th |
| 1998–99
| 14–2 (.875) | 6–2 (.750) | 292,704 | 18,294 | 5th |
| 1999–00
| 9–5 (.643) | 5–3 (.625) | 249,300 | 17,807 | 6th |
| 2000–01
| 16–2 (.889) | 7–1 (.875) | 292,057 | 16,225 | 9th |
| 2001–02
| 11–5 (.688) | 5–3 (.625) | 241,033 | 15,065 | 13th |
| 2002–03
| 8–8 (.500) | 3–5 (.375) | 236,638 | 14,790 | 14th |
| 2003–04
| 10–6 (.625) | 4–4 (.500) | 236,676 | 14,792 | 13th |
| 2004–05
| 13–3 (.813) | 5–3 (.625) | 252,608 | 15,788 | 9th |
| 2005–06
| 15–1 (.938) | 7–1 (.875) | 239,336 | 14,958 | 12th |
| 2006–07
| 13–3 (.813) | 5–3 (.625) | 267,520 | 16,720 | 9th |
| 2007–08
| 15–1 (.938) | 7–1 (.875) | 274,360 | 17,148 | 8th |
| 2008–09
| 12–6 (.667) | 2–6 (.250) | 288,781 | 16,043 | 11th |
| 2009–10
| 11–8 (.579) | 5–3 (.625) | 256,667 | 13,509 | 17th |
| 2010–11
| 15–3 (.833) | 5–3 (.625) | 216,999 | 12,055 | 29th |
| 2011–12
| 17–3 (.850) | 5–3 (.625) | 262,329 | 13,116 | 23rd |
| 2012–13
| 17–1 (.944) | 9–0 (1.000) | 252,857 | 14,047 | 17th |
| 2013–14
| 17–2 (.895) | 7–2 (.778) | 280,465 | 14,023 | 10th |
| 2014–15
| 16–2 (.889) | 7–2 (.778) | 283,485 | 15,749 | 11th |
| 2015–16
| 13–4 (.765) | 6–3 (.667) | 258,705 | 15,217 | 12th |
| 2016–17
| 15–3 (.833) | 6–3 (.667) | xxx,xxx | xx,xxx | nth |
| 2017–18
| 15–2 (.882) | 7–2 (.778) | xxx,xxx | xx,xxx | nth |
| 2018–19
| 12–6 (.667) | 5–4 (.555) | xxx,xxx | xx,xxx | nth |
| 2019–20
| 14–4 (.778) | 5–4 (.555) | xxx,xxx | xx,xxx | nth |
| 2020-21
| 16-1 (.941) | 8-1 (.888) | xxx,xxx | xxx,xxx | nth |
| Totals
| 332–74 (.817) | 143–54 (.726) | 6,273,705 | 16,197 | Avg. Rank: 11th |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/bud-walton-arena/ Bud Walton Arena] - Arkansas Razorbacks
- [https://maps.google.com/maps?q=fayetteville,+ar&t=h&hl=en&ll=36.061485,-94.178088&spn=0.004042,0.013475&t=h Google Maps Satellite/Map of Bud Walton Arena]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060420001417/http://www.ladybacks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=2300 Bud Walton Arena overview at LadyBacks.com (official site of Arkansas women's athletics)]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070926234827/http://www.fayettevilletourism.com/attractions/details.phtm?id=275 FayettevilleTourism.com information on Bud Walton Arena]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070311060649/http://www.rateitall.com/i-25389-bud-walton-arena-university-of-arkansas.aspx RateItAll.com Rating of Bud Walton Arena]
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Category:Arkansas Razorbacks basketball venues
Category:Tourist attractions in Fayetteville, Arkansas
Category:Museums in Washington County, Arkansas
Category:Sports museums in Arkansas
Category:1993 establishments in Arkansas
Category:Sports venues completed in 1993