Bud Walton Arena — Attraction in Fayetteville

We traveled from Tulsa to Fayetteville for this event and left heartbroken by how poorly Bud Walton Arena treats guests — especially those with medical or ADA needs.

Security refused to let me bring in my small crossbody bag, saying it was slightly too big — and if it’s over the limit, it must be clear. I challenged the measurement and asked for a supervisor. She came over and manipulated the sizing sheet by holding it sideways to justify turning me away. It was obvious and intentional — they just didn’t like being questioned.

Even worse, I watched an elderly woman get dropped off by an Uber, only to be refused entry because her purse was too large. She had no ride and nowhere to go. It was humiliating and cruel.

I also have a serious medical condition that requires constant hydration. I explained this and asked for an ADA accommodation to bring water — they refused. Water inside was $7.20 a bottle. With four people in our group, one round of drinks was $30. Staying for 8 hours would’ve cost us over $100 in water alone.

And let me be clear — I’ve attended events across the country: Chicago, New York, Detroit, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Phoenix, Washington DC — and I’ve never once paid over $7 for a bottle of water. This was outrageous.

Staff were rude, dismissive, and showed no concern for ADA compliance or common decency.

Life Surge was kind enough to refund our money — and I thank them for that. But Bud Walton Arena is aging, overpriced, and absolutely unwelcoming.

They’re fortunate we haven’t filed a formal ADA complaint. But we still might.

I will never return to this venue — and I encourage others to think twice before trusting it with your event or...

My husband took my brother and I to see the Hogs play. Neither my brother or myself have ever seen the Razorback Men's Basketball Team play live I was so excited🤩 We love the Hogs so this was a surprise for my brother now you really can't get him out of the house too much so it was hard to rally him to go out for a ride and dinner... he says prior "the Razorback men's basketball team is playing tonight your go out see you when your get back! No choice left I had to give him the Razorback sweatshirt😻 Oh yes it was on now he got dressed quick and knew where we were going.....We rode to the game excited playing nemesis Ole Miss. Traffic heavy we jumped out walked up to gate along with the othe 100's of late arrivals and hubby went to park in lot. Security personnel are very pleasant even while checking your bag etc. Running late wasnt going to stop at concession stands that many were being serviced. Did go to the bathroom because I wasn't going to leave my seat during the game. Bathroom...ladies were large , clean and bountiful so you can get in and out quickly! Good set up with warm water. Usher kind while directing you to your seats. No matter where you seat you can see the floor clearly. We had good seats. Fans were pleasant we all hoping and praying for a win👏 We walked into the stadium and the flag was on display, folks were gearing to go. The site was AWESOME🥳❤🧡💛💚💙💜💥🌞🌈 Yes we were over the rainbow... we were never there and exceeded our expectations! Great Stadium! Of course we hit the store and purchased our Official Razorback stuffed Hog! Unfortunately, we lost but many stayed...

Upon finding my way to my seat I had the immediate sense that the size proportions that the builders, chair designers had in mind are not the average size and proportions of the patrons of this arena. At least 85-90 percent of the people crammed into the seats suffered from OBCD and the person next to me was at least 1/4 of the way into my seat and the seat beside him. I think designers might need to update the seating size charts they have from when Merica might not have been as Great and Huge as it is today. Can someone offer the big and chub club - bench seating for the heavy weights? How about a gate that if someone can't slide through then they are escorted to the chub club? If someone can't fit into the space they pay for perhaps they can buy a second or third seat for themselves so that I or others don't have to share our seat with someone likely to have cardiac arrest standing up or perhaps get wedged into their space? The seating was worse than most cabin seats in airplanes. I had the displeasure of a man spreading event. Listen bud- you don't deserve to rest your leg on me. Develop some muscle tone somewhere in your body, psoas, adductors etc. My leg was wet from fat boys constant...