KU Jayhawks announce timeline & release renderings for football stadium renovations

The University of Kansas and Kansas Athletics jointly announced on Tuesday morning a new timeline for stadium renovations and circulated renderings for the 11th and Mississippi “Gateway” project.

Most notably, the school’s news release on the project promises “a transformed David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium to open in August 2025,” with construction to start this December, after the end of the 2023 college football regular season.

The stadium and surrounding area renovations will take place in two phases. For the 2024 season, Kansas’ Memorial Stadium will have a reduced capacity.

Kansas athletic director Travis Goff emphasized that stadium capacity for the 2024 season will be more than 40,000. He also stressed the importance of fan support in fundraising for the stadium project.

Kansas has partnered with Turner Construction Company as the construction manager for the project, per the release, and local design firms HNTB and Multistudio “have taken the design lead on the Gateway District” and stadium.

Here are more details about the project, as announced Tuesday:

Renovations to David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium

Renovations to KU’s football stadium — and surrounding areas — will be carried out over two phases.

Phase 1 renovations:

The first stage of renovations will involve changes to the southwest, west and north sides of the stadium. That includes a new conference center on the north end and the expansion of Anderson Family Football Complex (which unveiled new locker room and training facilities last week).

The release said construction on the first phase will begin at the end of the 2023 football season and will be completed by the start of the 2025 season.

“Kansas Athletics has set an initial fundraising goal of $300 million for David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium and Allen Fieldhouse capital projects, which is currently under construction,” the release said. “A total of $165 million in gifts and commitments have been secured, including $125 million since the project was announced last October.”

According to Goff, $250 million will go to the stadium while $50 million will go toward Allen Fieldhouse renovations, which are currently underway.

Other renovations to the Anderson Family Football Complex include a new sports medicine center — featuring hydrotherapy pools, cryotherapy chambers and infrared light therapy equipment — as well as a 2,300-square-foot player lounge.

There are also plans for a 1,200-square-foot video studio and 2,400-square-foot student services center, as well as a 180-seat team meeting room and 2,400-square-foot “virtual practice walkthrough room,” per the release.

The stadium upgrades will include chair-back seating, a video board that is two-and-a-half times bigger, a 50% increase in the area per seat, four times as many food and beverage offerings and “at least 1.5 times more restrooms,” the release said.

Phase 2 renovations:

The second phase of stadium renovations will involve the south and east portions of the stadium, including “the development of multi-use facilities to be used throughout the year to generate revenue for academic programming and student success,” per the release.

Those facilities are still in development but are expected to include dining options, retail space, office space and lodging, as well as space for “arts and entertainment,” the release said.

Parking and Wi-Fi

KU chancellor Douglas Girod said parking won’t change too much in the first phase. KU is currently looking at two to three different options and “stacked parking” could be a potential option.

Goff said he’s aware the reputation for the stadium isn’t great, but KU plans to fix that — just don’t expect it to happen right away.

“We’ll make sure we have the best Wi-Fi that exists at the moment it’s installed,” Goff said. “Likely fast-forward to 2025 for major upgrades there.”

Community benefit

According to the release, KU and KU Athletics expect the project to “undoubtedly help in economic growth for the city of Lawrence and University of Kansas.”

“The mixed-use development is projected to amount to $2.4 billion in direct, indirect and induced spending and $1.4 billion in direct, indirect and induced earnings, while supporting an estimated 720 jobs,” the release said. “Construction of the mixed-use development will create an additional 670 temporary jobs, $2.2 million in state sales tax and $2.4 million in state personal income tax.

“An estimated 500,000 prospective students and guests who visit the University of Kansas each year would utilize and benefit from the Gateway District and David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.”

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly emphasized the impact the project will have on the state of Kansas as a whole.

“The multi-use campus facilities spoken about have endless possibilities in terms of making Kansas the premier state to host state and national conventions,” Kelly said. “The (David Booth Kansas) Memorial Stadium upgrade is projected to support 2,600 temporary jobs that are underway and 240 permanent jobs once it’s complete.

“This will generate millions of dollars in sales and income taxes that will go toward making Kansas a better place for everyone in every corner of the state for generations to come.”

What they’re saying

KU chancellor Douglas Girod, athletic director Travis Goff and football coach Lance Leipold were all quoted in the release announcing the news.

From Girod:

“The Gateway District is a once-in-a-generation project to transform our campus and drive economic development throughout the region. Specifically, this project will create exciting new amenities for students, employees and visitors while providing Kansas Football the facilities it needs to compete at the highest level.”

From Goff:

“The cumulative impact of a world-class football operations complex and one of the finest game day venues in the country catapults Kansas Football, and our entire athletics program, into this critical next chapter. We have a proud history, but this unprecedented investment makes a powerful statement about an even brighter future and provides far-reaching impact for our university community, fans and football program. I am grateful for the leadership of Chancellor Girod and the visionary donors who have propelled this generational project forward.”

From Leipold:

“This project is vital to the continued growth of our program. We are incredibly appreciative of the commitment shown by our generous donors, Chancellor Girod, Travis Goff and many others. The substantial upgrades to David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium and Anderson Family Football Complex will greatly enhance the student-athlete experience. I am very much looking forward to seeing that come to life.”

And from Kansas running back Devin Neal:

“Nearly 3 1/2 years ago I committed here because I was confident that better days are ahead. As a proud Lawrence native, I wanted to help lay the foundation for the program that was a sleeping giant.

“Momentum is already real, but today It went to another level. Sitting here and seeing the future of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium and the ‘Gateway’ just gives you chills. We’re laying another brick today and it’s a major one. Brick by brick, we are changing this football program.”