🚜 Hearing: New Details Emerging for Booth Construction

• 🏀 Hearings: KU football will play through major construction

• 📝 Quick Links: Bill Self previews NC State & Darryn Peterson

• 🔒 Hearings: KU football & Andy Kotelnicki

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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.

🏈 Hearing: KU Football Will Play Through Heavy Construction in 2026

It’ll be another new-look season for Kansas football next year, but not in the sleek-renderings-come-to-life way fans experienced this season. Next season is looking a bit messier at The Booth.

I’m Hearing The Booth’s capacity will be around 30,000 next year (maybe a tick higher) as the Jayhawks will play through major construction in 2026.  

This is what I’m Hearing:

The Big Picture

Phase 2 is all about the east and south sides for KU football, along with KU’s Gateway area — a key point in understanding the broader scope of this second round of construction that won’t be finished when KU kicks off.

• East side lower bowl: fully completed. Fans will have real seats, not temporary bleachers.

• East side upper bowl: still under construction. I don’t anticipate KU fans in the upper deck on the east side.

• Concessions + restrooms: temporary. Portable units, pop-up stands, the whole deal. Functional, but that’s it.

• Parking on the east side: a headache. The lot and surrounding area will be torn up most of the season. I think it’s gonna be gnarly over there.

• And stadium capacity is expected to be around ~30,000 for 2026. That’s the rough number with the East upper bowl offline and temporary infrastructure in place.

• One wrinkle I’m Hearing: students are getting moved — to the Northeast corner and part of the South End Zone.

  • The trade-off:

    • New location + end zone seating for students…

    • Stronger atmosphere down low. Students closer to the field is a win every time.

    • I’m not certain this is the long-term layout, but I think it’s more likely than not if it goes well.

The Bottom Line

KU Athletics has planned to play through construction for a while. I don’t think it’s a surprise internally. And Travis Goff has said it publicly before.

But I’m not sure fans understood the scope of the construction that’ll take place during next season.

This obviously isn’t ideal, but it isn’t unusual, either. Northwestern spent multiple seasons in a 20,000-seat temporary facility. KU could’ve played with a one-sided stadium this fall.

Instead, they’re choosing a mostly intact game-day environment — even if it comes with dust, dirt, and some temporary bathrooms.

From what I’m Hearing, KU is getting close to releasing public Phase 2 details. I’m also working on more specifics to share with you soon.

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🏀 Watch Bill Self’s press conference previewing NC State and discussing Darryn Peterson’s practices.

🎙️ The best KU fan podcast on the planet “Could be Wrong Pod” was live after the Mizzou game breaking down how the Jayhawks are starting to look DANGEROUS. Audio is also available on Spotify and Apple.

🏀 Watch this 30 minute deep dive breaking down the film from Peterson’s return for the Jayhawks.

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A quick Hearing on where things stand with KU football staffing decisions and former offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki .

There’s a lot to work through — but conversations are happening.

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