Bud Walton Arena

Nolan Richardson Court at Bud Walton Arena
Basketball Palace of Mid-America
Location	1270 Nolan Richardson Drive; Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701-5570
Coordinates	36°03′41″N 94°10′41″W / 36.061518°N 94.178188°W
Owner	University of Arkansas
Operator	University of Arkansas
Capacity	19,368 (2009–present); 19,200 (1993–2009)
Record attendance	20,344 (November 29, 2023 vs. Duke)
Surface	Hardwood Floor
Construction
Broke ground	March 28, 1992
Opened	November 29, 1993
Construction cost	$30 Million; ($63.3 million in 2023 dollars)
Architect	Rosser International; Mott, Mobley, McGowan & Griffin
General contractor	Huber, Hunt & Nichiols
Tenants
	Arkansas Razorbacks men's and women's basketball teams (1993-present)

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.^[3] 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."^[4]

Early years

The arena has been the home to the Razorbacks since November 1993; the men's team won the national championship^[5] 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.^[6]

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 24 feet 3 inches (7.39 m) wide by 22 feet (6.7 m) tall, features four video screens, each 12 feet 6 inches (3.81 m) wide by 8 feet 10 inches (2.69 m) 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.^[7] 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. ^[8]

On March 28, 2019, the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees voted unanimously to name the court in honor of former coach Richardson.^[9]

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^[7]

Season	Overall Record	SEC Record	Overall Attendance	Average Attendance	Rank Nationally
1993–94	16–0 (1.000) (NCAA National Champions)	8–0 (1.000)	322,146	20,134	4th
1994–95	14–1 (.933) (NCAA Runner-Up)	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

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Waldon, George (March 29, 1993). "Everybody Wants a Seat in Bud's Building". Arkansas Business. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
^ "Old Model, New Money". Scout.com. Archived from the original on 2008-12-20. Retrieved January 13, 2008.
^ "Bud Walton Arena". University of Arkansas Athletic Department. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2008.
^ Berkowitz, Steve (April 5, 1994). "Arkansas hits Hog Heaven With NCAA Title". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 13, 2008.
^ "Barnhill Arena: Home of the Lady Razorbacks". University of Arkansas Athletic Department. Archived from the original on April 20, 2006. Retrieved January 13, 2008.
^ ^a ^b "Basketball at Bud Walton Arena". University of Arkansas Athletic Department. September 17, 2013. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
^ "UA students push Nolan Richardson Court". Arkansas Online. 2018-02-13. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
^ "Nolan Richardson Court: Home To Razorback Basketball". Retrieved March 29, 2019.

External links

[archcon-1] Waldon, George (March 29, 1993). "Everybody Wants a Seat in Bud's Building". Arkansas Business. Retrieved August 14, 2013.

[inflation-US-2] 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.

[3] "Old Model, New Money". Scout.com. Archived from the original on 2008-12-20. Retrieved January 13, 2008.

[4] "Bud Walton Arena". University of Arkansas Athletic Department. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2008.

[5] Berkowitz, Steve (April 5, 1994). "Arkansas hits Hog Heaven With NCAA Title". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 13, 2008.

[6] "Barnhill Arena: Home of the Lady Razorbacks". University of Arkansas Athletic Department. Archived from the original on April 20, 2006. Retrieved January 13, 2008.

[arkansasrazorbacks.com-7] "Basketball at Bud Walton Arena". University of Arkansas Athletic Department. September 17, 2013. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2013.

[8] "UA students push Nolan Richardson Court". Arkansas Online. 2018-02-13. Retrieved 2023-03-04.

[9] "Nolan Richardson Court: Home To Razorback Basketball". Retrieved March 29, 2019.

[1]

v t e Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball
Venues	Schmidt Gymnasium (1923–1937) Men's Gymnasium (1937–1955) Barnhill Arena (1955–1993) Bud Walton Arena (1993–present)
People	Head coaches NBA players Statistical leaders
Seasons	List of seasons 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
NCAA national championship in bold; NCAA Final Four appearances in italics

v t e University of Arkansas
Located in: Fayetteville, Arkansas
Schools and colleges	Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences Walton College of Business College of Education & Health Professions College of Engineering Honors College Global Campus Graduate School and International Education School of Law Office of Distance Education
Athletics	Southeastern Conference Arkansas Razorbacks Baseball Basketball Men's Women's Football Golf Men's Women's Gymnastics Soccer Softball Marching Band "Arkansas Fight" Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium War Memorial Stadium Bud Walton Arena Baum–Walker Stadium Randal Tyson Track Center John McDonnell Field Barnhill Arena Tusk Big Red Rivalries LSU Missouri Texas Texas A&M Texas Tech Ole Miss Game of the Century Seven-overtime football games 2001 vs. Ole Miss 2003 vs. Kentucky
People	Alumni List of university presidents Notable faculty
Buildings	Agriculture Building Arkansas Union Campus Campus Historic District Carnall Hall Chemistry Building Chi Omega Greek Theatre Engineering Building Gearhart Hall HPER Complex Home Economics Building Mullins Library Old Main Memorial Hall Razorback Road Vol Walker Hall
Other	Alma Mater Calling the Hogs Chi Omega Greek life History KXUA KUAF Paragould meteorite Press Razorback Transit SEFOR Senior Walk Space Center The Arkansas Traveler 2000 shooting
Founded: 1871 Students: 27,194 Endowment: 948.6 million

v t e NCAA Division I college basketball venues in Arkansas
ASUN	Farris Center (Central Arkansas)
OVC	Jack Stephens Center (Little Rock)
SEC	Bud Walton Arena (Arkansas)
Sun Belt	First National Bank Arena (Arkansas State)
SWAC	K. L. Johnson Complex (Arkansas–Pine Bluff)