War Memorial funding based on 'good faith estimates'

(Little Rock-AP) -- University of Arkansas Athletic Director Frank Broyles says he interpreted a law incorrectly when he criticized War Memorial Stadium for apparently padding its attendance figures.

Wednesday, February 9th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Little Rock-AP) -- University of Arkansas Athletic Director Frank Broyles says he interpreted a law incorrectly when he criticized War Memorial Stadium for apparently padding its attendance figures. Broyles had said Monday that the stadium commission overestimated the number of out-of-state ticket buyers, adding that the estimates border -- quote -- "almost on being a fraud."

But he told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that his statements were based on an interpretation of the law that the commission may only report travel from out-of-state to claim state taxpayer money. He says state law apparently does not confine the claims to visitors from out of state. The accusation against the commission was attributed both to Broyles and state Senator David R- Malone yesterday in an article in the Northwest Arkansas Times at Fayetteville.

Malone denied to the Democrat-Gazette that he made an accusation that the claims were based on padded numbers. The flap over the stadium's funding comes just days before university trustees are to vote Friday on the location of Razorback football games