HEARING: KU's Phase II Stadium Plans + What's Missing 👀

• 🔒 Hoops note & Football portal HQ

• 🏈 Major KU football stadium updates and questions

• 📝 Quick Links: Bryce Foster returns & a commit

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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.

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🏗️ Breaking Down KU's Phase II Stadium Plans

Back in October, I shared Hearings about KU's ideal timeline to finish the football stadium rebuild. Yesterday, KU confirmed those Hearings and shared Phase II is moving forward ✅

First, the numbers: KU announced the total Gateway cost at $759 million. While that sounds right, I'd caution that these numbers have been a moving target ($300M? $448M? $759M?).

But here's what really matters: KU needs to finish the stadium right. Don't go cheap at the end.

The current budget allocates ~$185M for the stadium completion, underground parking, and plaza area. I'm concerned if that's the final number (though hopefully other budget lines can supplement the stadium).

The East Side Design (First shared in October via this newsletter):

Those early renderings with the simple east side layout and tall light columns? They might change – and I hope they will. I've long Heard KU intentionally kept these initial east side designs basic.

The real story is what's missing: The premium seating plan remains undecided. There's a reason the east side is almost absent from KU's Gateway website renderings...

What I'm Hearing:

• Demolition starts right after next season

• The focus will be getting the structure and seating built out

• Temporary concessions/restrooms to start 2026 if needed

• East side moves in ~30 feet (not 100 feet as reported)

• KU Athletics wants more (premium) seating – but needs University buy-in on the up-front cost

• Goal: East and west sides closer in design

The Timeline (First shared here in October) ✅

• 2024-25: Play in KC

• 2025-26: Home games with new west side complete

• 2026-27: Complete stadium with both sides rebuilt

This is KU's chance to get it right. Modern college football demands modern amenities.

After decades of waiting, KU finally has the opportunity to build the stadium it needs.'

Help Spread the Word:

Tell your friends about today’s Hearing by copy and pasting this link into your group texts or on social media.

🏈 KU football center Bryce Foster announced his return to KU for one last season. This is major for the Jayhawks.

🏈 I’m Hearing KU football landed kicker Laith Marjan. You can see his stats here.

🎁KUHearings subscribers get 10% off these beautiful Drone Lawrence prints until Dec. 17 with promo code: SCOOPS

📚 USA Today’s For the Win listed the ‘Complete History of Every Kansas State National Championship’ as one of the best White Elephant gifts under $20 this year!

🏀 Watch Bill Self’s press conference from Thursday here.