After years in the making, Arkansas and Arkansas State are set to meet on the football field for the first time Saturday at War Memorial Stadium. Preparations for the in-state rivalry began Monday with the painting of the Razorback logo at midfield.War Memorial Stadium manager John Latch said his team has been preparing for weeks for what is expected to be the first sellout at the stadium in years. The crowd is projected at 54,120, with thousands more expected to tailgate outside.
“We can feel it,” Latch said. “It’s definitely different for sure the back-and-forth between Red Wolves and Hogs.”
Stadium staff are adding more weapon detectors and ticket scanners to accommodate the large crowd.
The decision for the Razorbacks and Red Wolves to meet was finalized in February 2021, when Arkansas changed its longstanding policy of not scheduling in-state FBS opponents. That policy, started under former athletic director Frank Broyles, had kept the two programs from playing each other for decades.
The matchup, dubbed Red in the Rock, is also expected to provide an economic boost to Little Rock and Pulaski County through hotel stays, restaurants, and other local spending.
Kickoff is set for 4 on Saturday.
For the original reporting from KARK click here.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI