Fayetteville business owners discuss parking concerns for first Razorback home game of season

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Many people will be in Fayetteville on Saturday to watch the first Razorback home game of the season, and parking is expected to be in high demand.

It’s also Family Weekend at the University of Arkansas.

Matt Mills, Assistant Chief at the University of Arkansas Police Department, says between family, friends, fans, and alumni, they expect to see an influx in the number of people attending the match-up.

“There will probably be between 75,000 and 80,000 in the stands,” said Mills.

However, that doesn’t include those who will stick around to enjoy a tailgate.

“I would say several thousand will stay in tailgate areas,” Mills said.

Dozens of Fayetteville businesses will be offering up paid parking on their property, but one business owner on Razorback Road says he’s not doing it for profit.

“If we don’t control it, people will literally park over there in the weeds, park in the trees. They’ll park anywhere they can,” said Robert Mann, owner of Stadium Shoppe.

Stadium Shoppe is just over a mile from Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mann opened the store in 2016 and runs it with the help of his wife and son. He says since they opened their doors, parking has been an issue.

“We started running {parking} like the second game. We were here because the first game, we didn’t know that much about it, and it kind of slapped us that first game. We were kind of shocked,” said Mann.

Mann allows Razorback fans to pay to park on his lot for $30 per spot, but it’s all a part of his plan to protect his business, and some have criticized him for that price.

“A few years back, a guy pulls in. We’re selling parking. He asked me how much it was. I told him, he said, ‘Well, that’s highway robbery. I’m not paying that,’ and he leaves. Well, within 10 minutes, we filled up the parking lot, and he came back about 15 to 20 minutes later, and he says, ‘You got anything left?’ And I’m like, ‘No, we’re full up,’ and he goes, ‘I’ll give you $50,’ I said, ‘Well you should’ve paid me $20 just minutes ago when I told you we had parking.’ But yeah, it fills up in a hurry. If you don’t grab a spot, you’re going to miss it,” said Mann.

Mann says he isn’t making a profit off the parking, but he’s making just enough to pay the employees who work the lot.

“It takes four or five people to help wrangle the parking lot, get people to go where you need them to go. So, we have to charge something just to make up for the labor cost,” Mann said.

Campus police say there aren’t many other options.

“The only public parking in the area would be at Fayetteville High School, Leverett Elementary School, and private residences that would be close to the stadium,” said Mills.

Mills says many of the roads around campus will close around 8 a.m., so it’s best to plan ahead when thinking about where to park.

Some residences on Markham Road will offer paid parking, as well as Fayetteville High School.

Attendees can also park at the Spring Street Deck near Dickson Street and take a shuttle to the stadium. A downtown shuttle map can be found here .

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