• 🏀 Quickie on Darryn Peterson

• 🏈 Hearings: New Stadium Details for Phase II.

• 📝 Quick Links: Self speaks and Booth torn down

• 🔒 Hearings: No VIP today. Working on Peterson & football staff

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EVERYTHING IN THIS NEWSLETTER IS BASED UPON WHAT I AM HEARING FROM PEOPLE I TRUST. PLEASE DO NOT MISTAKE THIS FOR FACT OR FOR ACTUAL JOURNALISM, WHICH HAS VERIFICATION STANDARDS THAT I HAVE NOT ADHERED TO. I DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT.

Quickie on Darryn Peterson

I know everyone's asking for info on Peterson… I mean, same here. Sharing a quick update for now.

I'm Hearing (and I think it’s becoming clear): Bill Self has been frustrated with Peterson's camp — and the camp is making the decisions.

But Self’s not upset with Peterson himself, who has still been practicing and working with the team.

Self addressed it (kind of) after last night's game:

“We're in agreement with the family that he should not play until he feels good,” Self said. “I'm not inside his head or his body… But he wants to be out there. He's just not quite ready.”

Injury Hearings are tough to nail, and this one's been a moving target. I want you to know I’m working on it.

It’s still only December. But Big 12 play is up next.

Hearing: Major Plans Emerging for Phase II

The remaining old side of The Booth has been knocked down, and I'm Hearing new Phase II renderings should be shared soon. Before your group text turns into an architecture forum, here's what I'm Hearing.

The big stuff:

• Additional sections in the corners: Tightening the bowl without a full wraparound, as I’ve shared before here.

• Gateway Plaza got more ambitious: And $15 million more expensive.

• No upper concourse: Just lower-level and a middle concourse. This one's going to generate some takes and some getting used to.

• A hotel partner has landed: With a club area likely connecting directly to the stadium.

• More bathrooms: Your feedback was heard.

The overall renderings shouldn’t be dramatically different from the original ones. But where KU chose to spend tells you a lot about the future of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.

Gateway Plaza Is a Major Investment

I'm Hearing this is shaping up as one of the most significant — and expensive — parts of the entire Gateway Stadium project.

The Gateway Plaza, a large outdoor space just outside the east side of the stadium with a parking podium beneath it, now carries an estimated cost of about $70 million, according to plans KU shared with the Kansas Board of Regents. That's roughly $15 million higher than what KU shared with the City of Lawrence back in August.

You can see the location in these preliminary concept plans below (note the video boards). Again, these are older renderings for conceptualizing the location more than anything.

I’m Hearing the current plan extends from the stadium out into the plaza, preserving a path to the hill, and creates a game-day entrance and in-game gathering area anchored by a video board.

Outside of games, that same space flips into an open event venue that can host concerts and other programming throughout the year.

Building all of this on top of a parking structure adds real cost — structure, circulation, gates, utilities, and event-ready infrastructure — but it also explains why KU leaned in instead of trimming it back.

This is the part of Phase II designed to work year-round, and it's where the project clearly became more ambitious than originally planned.

The Mega Suite & Bar

Instead of multiple individual suites, KU is going with one large “mega suite” premium patio space and bar.

Fewer walls. More flexibility. More social energy.

This aligns with modern stadium design trends — less private-box culture, more communal premium experiences.

No Upper Concourse — Just Lower + Middle

This will feel odd at first.

There will be a lower concourse and a middle concourse with no dedicated upper concourse.

Expect some early congestion on that middle concourse — but I’d assume people will adapt over time.

A Club Area Tied Directly to the Hotel

There will be a club/donor area directly connected to the hotel. Think of how the Debruce Center works on gamedays for hoops.

That matters for game-day access, year-round events, and premium hospitality.

This is another part of the project that goes beyond seating and ties the stadium into the broader Gateway vision.

South End Zone = Room to Build (One Day)

The south end zone will not fully connect the bowl, a choice KU made in order to make the East side as nice as possible.

I’m Hearing this is where KU could eventually expand capacity (should it have reason to expand).

Phase II is being built with future growth in mind, not boxing itself in.

Restrooms: KU Heard the Feedback

After this season’s feedback — I’m Hearing bathroom size and capacity are being actively addressed in Phase II.

KU is doing what it can to improve the experience, and even looking into how it can improve the Phase I concourses.

Sadly, no troughs will be included.

Corner Seating & Lower Wheat Lights

Compared to earlier plans, additional seating sections are being added in the corners in lieu of the connected south end zone.

It's not a full wraparound, but it tightens the bowl visually and improves continuity without ballooning scope or cost.

And one other detail people would have noticed had it not changed:

The east-side wheat lights will be shorter, so they won't look much taller than the west side the way earlier concepts suggested (with different heights for each side).

The Big Picture

Phase II is about closing the gap between east and west — and building into the rest of campus.

This is more complex than Phase I. It involves more partners. A developer. And different cost trade offs.

But it appears KU is leaning toward long-term flexibility, premium revenue, and a campus-facing front door that works year-round.

It may take a while, but when people experience the Gateway Plaza, I think (and hope) it'll all click.

Help Spread the Word ‼️

You can help support my work by by sharing today’s Hearings with your friends or upgrading to VIP. And thank you for your continued support. We’re building this thing together.

🏀 Watch Bill Self’s and KU’s press conference after Davidson. This is the first time he acknowledged Peterson’s family calling the shots.

🚜 These two videos of The Booth coming down are a must watch. It’s wild to see.

🏀 Watch KU commits Tay Kinney and Javon Bardwell connect for an alley oop.