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🆕 Hearings: Memorial Stadium Renovations
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🚜 Hearings: Memorial Stadium Rebuild
Images for reference
Summary of the following Hearings:
• Travis Goff’s internal message: “No retreating and no apologizing”
• Phase One of the stadium is on budget and on schedule to open before next football season.
• KU has about $50M remaining in its current stadium fundraising goal of $250M.
• Phase Two should be coming sooner than you might think, likely starting after next season.
• KU is hoping to partner with the city of Lawrence for funding/tax incentives to encourage development.
With pressure building, I’m Hearing Kansas AD Travis Goff has been delivering a message to those around him: “No retreating and no apologizing.”
While Goff continues to say all the right things publicly, I’m sure these fall Saturdays have been miserable for him and those in charge at KU. Goff took the chance KU needed in fixing football.
This is about more than one season. So these Hearings will take a step back and explore the latest on the Memorial Stadium rebuild.
Before the Hearings, I want to quickly address some concerns that many of you have raised after recent local reporting on the stadium. It all ties into the Hearings below.
Quick Local Reporting Clarification
The Lawrence Journal-World recently said Chancellor Doug Girod was surprised that the stadium needs to be 100% rebuilt before a hotel can be added nearby. Girod’s comments made it sound like KU needed to make a major change with the stadium plan.
The story also said KU had put Phase 2 of the stadium project “on pause,” with no timeline and no funds for the project.
To clarify: I disagree with characterizing Phase 2 as “on pause.” KU has always said Phase 2 would come at a later date. Can you pause something that never started?
(This isn’t a knock on the LJW. I’m grateful for their reporting, which is needed on the subject. I just disagree with the phrasing).
To be clear:
Phase 1 = West side of the stadium.
Phase 2 = East side (student section) and closing the open endzone toward the hill.
The Gateway entertainment district is not part of Phase 2.
This video from the stadium designer and architect clearly shows this same order of events.
And it’s been this way the entire time. I shared the image below in a May 26, 2023 newsletter — three months before KU announced any details of the project. Shortly after, I wrote the following:
• Phase One is the press box side of the stadium, the bowl, and the convention center.
• Phase Two is the student section side of the stands, and closing the open endzone toward the hill.
Hearings on the Stadium Timeline and Funding
The most important (and overlooked) comment from Girod was, “We can’t wait on the stadium.”
Girod is setting the stage for Phase 2. This is what I’m Hearing:
Phase 1 of the stadium is on budget and on schedule.
I’m Hearing the stadium is expected to officially reopen next August (2025) just ahead of its first home game at the end of the month.
Phase 1 = ~70% of the project.
I’m Hearing KU hopes (and expects) to begin Phase 2 the following offseason.
In total, KU’s preferred timeline appears to be:
2024-25 (this season): At Arrowhead and Sporting KC.
2025-26 (next season): In Lawrence with 70% of the stadium rebuilt.
2026-27 (two seasons from now): In a completely rebuilt David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
There’s a chance KU somehow tries to get this finished earlier, but it seems unlikely.
After Phase 2 is done, the hotel and other entertainment development will begin.
While KU never promised an exact date for Phase 2, based on the preferred timeline above.
I don’t believe any donors have pulled significant money with football’s disappointing start. But I do believe they voiced their frustration.
I’ve Heard KU has $50M remaining as part of its $250M fundraising goal for the project.
KU will likely take on some debt for this project. This isn’t unusual, but I plan to watch this closely.
I’d expect the developer will pay for some of the costs upfront.
And then I’m Hearing KU is pushing for some municipal (city) funding to help with the development.
Something like a TIF, or “Tax Increment Financing” district would make sense here. TIF Districts encourage new development, which is exactly what KU is hoping to do. Everyone would benefit.
It would also make sense for Lawrence to create a Common Consumption Area for the entertainment district. This is essentially a social drinking zone.
KU’s hope is to incentivize development for the Gateway, but Lawrence isn’t exactly developer-friendly right now, as covered by the LJW here and here.
I suspect Girod’s comments were aimed at letting the city know: ”It’s go time to finish this thing.”
Or as Goff might say: No retreating, no apologizing.
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🏀 Watch this clip from Bill Self at Big 12 Media Days. “This could potentially be one of our better teams.”
🏀 Look at this ridiculous finish from Gradey Dick in his season opener. He scored 16 points for the Raptors.
🏀 Hunter Dickinson gave a great answer about handling the online criticism that comes his way. A lot of people in college athletics would benefit from this mindset.
This is a throwback. Hopefully a fitting one.
Q: In 2004, KU football broke a streak of 11 straight losses to Kansas State.
Who was KU’s QB in the 2004 streak-busting win vs. K-State?
You can reply to this email if you know it or want to take a guess. I’ll share the answer in the next KUHearings newsletter (coming tomorrow).
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