Using terms like "previously unattainable" and "audacious," Kansas has done the unthinkable. It has invested in its football facilities.
On Tuesday, Kansas unveiled plans to turn this:
into this:
Kansas will spend $300 million to invigorate the Gateway District and renovate Booth Memorial Stadium. Construction will begin after this upcoming football season and conclude in time for the 2025 campaign.
Take it away, KU alum Kevin Harlan.
To The Stars 💫
— Kansas Jayhawks (@KUAthletics) August 15, 2023
Introducing the KU Gateway District and a transformed David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. pic.twitter.com/Sf5zdmuyda
In addition to bringing in "a new conference center and multi-use facilities" with dining, retail and lodging, Kansas will also expand the Anderson Family Football Complex. On top of a new locker room, future Jayhawks will enjoy a content studio and a 2,400-square virtual practice room.
“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," KU AD Travis Goff said. "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.”
Kansas did not include a new seating capacity to Booth Memorial Stadium in all its marketing materials released Tuesday. Earlier this summer, a consultant KU hired recommended dropping the stadium's capacity to 39,839, which would've made the stadium the smallest in the Big 12.
“Love our consultants but capacity will be over 40K,” Goff tweeted at the time. “This project will have something for everyone — affordable tickets, the best premium seating, real home field advantage."
The renovations will bring in "approximately" 2,300 club seats, but KU is also touting a 50 percent increase in area and leg room for each seat in the grand stands, and so it stands to reason capacity will fall below the current 47,233.
Either way, it'll be up to Lance Leipold to make the investment pay off.