Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

9/6/2010 at 2:00am

Gary Smith has left his mark on War Memorial Stadium in his time as stadium commission chairman, and his fellow commissioners in turn put his name on the new stadium press box for Smith’s efforts.

“It’s all very humbling,” Smith said on Aug. 24 when the new $7.3 million press box was dedicated. The glass doors at the base of the press box that lead to two spacious elevators will be forever known as the Gary L. Smith Entranceway.

“It wasn’t necessary. It’s been a labor of love for me and a true passion ever since I was brought here as a child to see a ball game,” Smith said of the commission bestowing the honor. “It’s been fun for me. This was just icing on the cake.”

Smith did whatever it took — be it turning on his folksy charm or calling in favors or just basic pleading with politicians and businessmen — to help raise $15 million since 2003 to update the 62-year-old stadium, home to two Arkansas Razorback games each year, including Saturday’s contest with Louisiana-Monroe.

War Memorial Stadium also serves as the site for the annual Delta Classic 4 Literacy matchup between UAPB and Grambling, the Arkansas High School Kickoff Classic and home games for Little Rock Catholic High as well as the site for all finals for the high school state playoffs, the annual Benton-Bryant “Salt Bowl” and many other events.

“If I needed a job done, I’d call on Gary Smith,” Gov. Mike Beebe said at the dedication.

(See SLIDESHOW: Fans Admire Changes as Ribbon Sliced on Stadium's New $7.3 Million Press Box)

Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long, who worked with Smith to extend War Memorial Stadium’s contract with the Hogs to 2016, credited Smith with connecting him to influential businessmen in Central Arkansas. “This is a huge improvement and a testament to Gary Smith and the stadium commission,” Long said.

Smith says he will give up his commission spot next year. But as a fan, he said he’ll still take a keen interest in the further development of the stadium.

“What I’ve learned on a project like this is, there is always something new to do,” he said. “There is some new way to do it; there’s some new part of the facility that has to be renovated. So it’s a never-ending process. This isn’t going to be finished with my leaving. We’re just at a turning point, and that’s all.”

Smith, a former bank president and president of Glass Erectors Inc. in Little Rock, said that any further stadium expansion should focus on premium seating. “A lot of people would like to spend the money for a second deck, but the truth of the matter is, it’s so costly and the amount of revenue that would be generated would not compare to adding more premium seats adjacent to or on either side of the press box,” he said.

2016 Still a Ways Off

Jeff Long says that with the UA’s two-games-a-year contract with War Memorial Stadium still with six years remaining, he hasn’t begun looking at where things will be after that.

“But any time improvements are made, that’s a big plus,” Long said of the $15 million in work. “The fans enjoy us playing here. I know our team and coaches enjoy playing here. So, it’s all positive. We’re excited about where they’re taking War Memorial Stadium.”

Gary Smith, who will end his tenure as stadium commission chairman next year, believes the stadium must continue to improve. “I’ve said from the beginning, unless we give them a reason to stay here, unless this facility is worthy, they’re not going to stay. Nobody’s going to come. We had to make this facility worthy, not just from a safety and soundness standpoint, but also with new innovation.”

Long said that national media covering the Razorbacks in Little Rock will like the improvements made and will share that with their markets. “That helps our brand and raises the University of Arkansas and the Razorback program in the eyes of the nation.”

The stadium increased club seating from 250 seats in “Hog Heaven” to 582 total club seats on two levels, plus five skyboxes. Additionally, the construction of the new press box allowed the restoration of two rows at the top of the west stands that were taken up by the older press box. That’s an additional 250 seats the UA can sell and include in its changing seat-license program.

Fans in “Hog Heaven” in the old press box originally paid $1,000 per seat for lifetime rights in the enclosed area. That went away when the old press box was torn down. Club seating in the new press box costs $300 per seat per game.

Tagged: Gary L. Smith Entranceway, Delta Classic 4 Literacy, Grambling, Salt Bowl, Glass Erectors Inc., Hog Heaven, Gary Schroeder, War Memorial Stadium, press box, Arkansas Razorbacks, UAPB Golden Lions, Gov. Mike Beebe, Jeff Long