By Nathan Swaffar, 247Sports.com
LAWRENCE, Kan. – In an email sent to donors on Friday, Kansas Athletics Director Travis Goff provided an update regarding ongoing renovations to David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium and Allen Fieldhouse. The email detailed when future plans would be announced regarding Memorial Stadium and that the beginning phase of Allen Fieldhouse work had begun.
Regarding Memorial Stadium, the email stated that more information regarding specific details of the renovation and the coordinating Gateway Project would be announced sometime later in 2023. The email also said that the design regarding the renovations has progressed and a construction manager has been hired. It also noted that ongoing locker and weight room renovations regarding the Anderson Family Football Complex, which began in April following the conclusion of spring practice, are slated to be completed by the time preseason camp begins in July.
This summer, the football team is working out in the indoor facility, as shown in multiple social media clips. The equipment from the weight room has been moved to the north end of the indoor facility. Lance Leipold commented on the locker and weight room renovations when they were first announced in February.
“I am excited to see this project come together and know it will benefit our current players tremendously,” Lance Leipold said. “It’s very important to our staff that our current players have the opportunity to benefit from the upgraded facilities, and this will ensure they do in a first-class way. We have taken several important steps to becoming a better football program over the past two years and this is another critical step forward.”
Regarding Allen Fieldhouse, Goff said that the first phase of the two-phased renovation plan was underway.
“As we explained when we announced, this will be a two-phased approach over the current offseason and following the 2023-24 season,” Goff said. “When it’s completed, the greatest venue in college basketball will be amongst the most accommodating and fan friendly.”
The email said that improvements on the men’s basketball staff suite began immediately following the conclusion of the 2022-23 season and that it is set to be completed in early fall. Along with the staff suite, the east side entrance and donor spaces were also being worked on with a new team store set to be completed. The new “Jayhawk Pub” is also being worked on during the first phase.
Bill Self mentioned in April how the new renovations will take the Allen Fieldhouse experience to a whole other level following its completion.
“I’m biased, I can’t say that Allen Fieldhouse is the greatest place ever because I haven’t been everywhere else. But it’s the greatest place I’ve ever been. But this is going to amp that feeling up tremendously,” Self said. “And the fan experience is going to be off the charts for a building that’s almost 70 years old, you have the modern amenities of a building that was just opened, it’s going to be fantastic.”
