Bud Walton Arena Getting New Scoreboard and Audio Upgrades

Jeff Long teased on Twitter yesterday about new investments into the basketball program...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Exciting news hitting the inboxes of <a href="https://twitter.com/RazorbackMBB">@razorbackmbb</a> season ticket holders this evening. BIG time investment back into the program. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WPS?src=hash">#WPS</a></p>&mdash; Jeff Long (@jefflongUA) <a href="https://twitter.com/jefflongUA/status/631598561273090049">August 12, 2015</a></blockquote>

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And reportedly, that investment is going to be a new scoreboard and arena audio system in Bud Walton Arena at an estimated cost of about $4 million.

The new video scoreboard will feature four LED screens, according to the university. The sound system will "allow more efficient audio distribution with enhanced volume and clarity" throughout the arena, the email stated.

"Imagine trading a single AM/FM radio positioned in the middle of the room for a high quality stereo with surround sound customized for 19,000 plus fans sitting throughout the arena," the email stated. "In other words, we are confident you will notice a significant difference."

I'm curious to see if this means Arkansas is going to the 4-flat screen scoreboard as opposed to the circular/round board they've always had. Some basketball arenas in the NBA have moved toward a board that resembles more of a smaller version of the famous scoreboard at JerryWorld, and I recall Long tweeted an interest in an NBA board during the playoffs or something (I can't find the tweet, though, so I could be mistaken).

Regardless, it appears the new scoreboard is happening in time for this basketball season. Any little attraction to help attendance this year is probably a good thing.

No word on what happened to the basketball from the 2014 Kentucky victory. It had been in the scoreboard since the Wildcat threw the ball into it after Michael Qualls' famous putback dunk, sealing the memorable victory for the Hogs.