Arkansas fan creates epic full-scale Razorback Stadium replica inside Minecraft

(Ben Bryan/YouTube)

If you have spent time with a kid age 6 or older in the past decade or so, you’ve probably heard them talk about Minecraft. The blocky, three-dimensional game created by Mojang Studios has captured the imagination of gamers all over the world since its release in 2011.

SUBSCRIBE: Get our free newsletter!

It might take having actually played the game, plus the memory of a visit or two to Razorback Stadium to fully appreciate the creation that 17-year-old Greenwood resident Ben Bryan shared with the Flyer this week. Then again, it’s pretty dang impressive regardless of whether you’ve actually booted up the game for a “survival mode” or “creative mode” session yourself.

(Ben Bryan/YouTube)

Bryan spent the last two years creating a full-scale model of Razorback Stadium inside Minecraft, complete with the field, lights, locker rooms, concourses, bathrooms, concession stands, suites, club seating, and more.

He released a video showcasing the enormity of his creation on YouTube.

“The entire project was done by me alone on my PlayStation 4,” Bryan said. “No hacks, editing, or mods were used in this project, it was all done manually.”

A lover of architecture and design, Bryan said he was inspired to create the project after visiting the newly-renovated stadium during a game a few years ago.

“Once the 2018 renovations were completed I absolutely fell in love with the design,” he said. “I had seen other people do stadiums on Minecraft, but no one had ever done Razorback Stadium.

“I decided that I knew the stadium well enough to not only design the exterior, but the interior as well, which has never been done before on this scale in Minecraft that I am aware of,” Bryan said.

(Ben Bryan/YouTube)

Bryan said he studied photos, architectural plans, and snuck into club areas during visits to the stadium to research details for the project.

“I have had season tickets my entire life, so I’ve been around the stadium more times than I can count,” he said. “I have a pretty good memory, but I also took lots of pictures during my walks around stadium during halftime and the 3rd quarter. I used pictures from the internet as well, from contractor sites, touring sites, architecture sites, etc. I even went as far as to have the architecture firm give me the blueprints to the stadium.”

Bryan’s father Stuart said he has been impressed with Ben’s dedication to the project.

“Ben and his brother would explore the stadium during the games and sneak around past the (ushers) into the club areas,” Stuart laughed. “He has really put in the work on this thing.”

(Ben Bryan/YouTube)

It isn’t the first large replica Ben has created, but it is by far the most elaborate, Stuart said.

“When I was younger, probably around 9 or 10, I created a full-scale version of the Performing Arts Center in Greenwood,” Ben said. “It was a large build, but not even close to a quarter of the size of Razorback Stadium.”

For now, the replica is only available to view on Bryan’s YouTube channel, though he’s looking into how to make it public so other Minecraft players can explore it while in the game.

After more that two years working on the project, however, Bryan said he isn’t in any hurry to start working on Bud Walton Arena or Baum-Walker Stadium anytime soon.

“I would love to do another project, but unfortunately I just don’t have the time anymore,” he said. “I had a lot of time during Covid, but I’m just so busy now.”

The level of detail on the project recreated with a blocky 3-D game engine is nothing short of amazing. From the lighting in the club areas, to the concession stands, the railings, and the bleachers, Bryan’s creation is about as close to the real thing as you can get without a ticket.

» See the full Minecraft video walkthrough on YouTube