John L. Smith’s view of Razorback Stadium’s Upgraded Video Screen

Fayetteville, Ark.– Part of the $40.35 million upgrades planned for the University of Arkansas football renovations includes the Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium video screen.

On Monday construction crews began updating what was once the largest high-definition video screen of its kind and Arkansas head football coach John L. Smith seemingly could not be happier.

When the Razorbacks unveiled the world’s largest video screen (30 x 107 feet) in 2000 who would have thought that in 12 short years a $4.6 million upgrade would be needed? The original cost of the screen was in the neighborhood of $6.5 million; good to see some costs going down.

Fans, players, and recruits will now get to enjoy seeing the Hogs on a 38 x 167 screen towering over the north end zone.

The new High Definition monitor will come close to doubling the size of its predecessor, the Smart Vision screen.

Interim head football coach John L. Smith, a new Twitter user, has been updating progress on the replacement daily. The following are some of his updates:

John L. Smith (@JohnL_Smith)
5/21/12 4:42 PM
Another picture of the construction of the new video board on a beautiful Monday afternoon in Fayetteville #GoHogs

John L. Smith (@JohnL_Smith)
5/23/12 7:56 AM
Coach Steve Caldwell, Coach Kevin Peoples and me currently on a tour of the new football practice fields #GoHogs

John L. Smith (@JohnL_Smith)
5/23/12 8:19 AM
One more video board update #GoHogs

*Featured image

LSI, a Cincinnati based manufacturer, installed the original screen and will handle the upgraded screen as well.

University of Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long and John L. Smith are also overseeing the construction of two new outdoor practice fields and a new football operations center.