Kansas has completed work on Phase 1 of an intense capital project to renovate Memorial Stadium, but when Phase 2 might begin remains a bit up in the air. Athletics director Travis Goff provided more clarity on that front on Thursday.
After a few recent developments, Kansas feels good about potentially beginning the project at the end of the 2025 football season. The project will bring the final 30% of the stadium up to speed.
“Working on it. Working on it,” Goff said when asked if he had a timeline for Phase 2. “We’re excited. We feel we’ve got a ton of wind in our sails. Based on a couple announcements last week, the city of Lawrence’s continued approval of the municipal incentives are going to be a really good spark for the project, in particular the Gateway of the East.”
According to KUSports.comLawrence city commissioners approved a package of financial incentives worth up to $94.6 million. It includes tax increment financing and STAR bond districts.
Kansas has also received some major funding of late for the Memorial Stadium project. David Booth earmarked $75 million of a remarkable $300 million donation for the project, while Paul and Beautiful debruce have contributed $25 million.
Goff referenced Booth’s gift in discussing the timeline for Phase 2 of the Memorial Stadium renovations. He continued.
“Mr. Booth’s remarkable, remarkable donation and the energy, the confidence that that gives us moving into Phase 2… there’s still work to be done,” Goff said. “You think about design, you think about having a schedule really refined. But the objective’s been stated.
“We want to demo that east side after this season and we want to get moving on construction. Of course, when things are finished and all that is still kind of in flux at this point.”
Kansas plans to play at home in Lawrence in 2026, even if construction limits capacity on the east side of Memorial Stadium to a certain extent. The project will bring the rest of the stadium up to speed.
The beginning phase of the renovation was shown off to reporters this week. They got to see a close-up view of the suites, dining areas, meeting rooms, various angles of the views, and some of the intricate details that went into the new David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. You can view more here.
