KU Athletics planning $300 million Memorial Stadium renovation

[Triggermv]

Been on road trips to many college football stadiums and I've always debated within myself as to who has the dumpiest stadium out there, and it has always been between KU and Northwestern. They've both been neck and neck. Trust me, it needs all of that $300 million.

 

[JM4CY]

KU has serious perception problem.

 

[abcguyks]

I wonder how much of that is going to be picked up by the taxpayers (of an already bankrupt state).

What does Illinois have to with this?

 

[knowlesjam]

What does Illinois have to with this?

Too big to fail...

 

[VeloClone]

Does it? Seems like it says they took care of an elite program while working towards the more expensive stuff. That's just good management.

We are in agreement then.

 

[CycloneErik]

We are in agreement then.

I'm still upset you made me say reasonably nice things about Kansas. Nothing takes that sting away.

 

[Knownothing]

What are you talking about? I am a season ticket holder at KU and I do not have to buy any football tickets, let alone season tickets. Don't just make stuff up, that's a flat out lie.

Many KU fans do purchase season tickets to other KU sports as a way to earn more points per dollar than just donating the same amount of money to the Williams Education Fund. Every year, my family buys season tickets to women's volleyball and then donates them to a local high school volleyball program because we get more points than if we just donated the money directly.

All they mean by the "clear the deck" statement is that Zenger has gotten all of the other things that needed to be done (updates to AFH and new dorms for KU hoops, building new facilities for track, softball and soccer, etc...) completed so that the next big chunks of fundraising money can be focused on the football team. And I truly do believe that the additional money spent on the team's facilities as well as the focus on hiring better assistants to recruit better, will result in a better product on the field and more fans in attendance.

So it's you and your family that we see at the football games. We were wondering who was in the stands. Good work by you

 

[JP4CY]

Been on road trips to many college football stadiums and I've always debated within myself as to who has the dumpiest stadium out there, and it has always been between KU and Northwestern. They've both been neck and neck. Trust me, it needs all of that $300 million.

I've been to:
Jack Trice
Kinnick
Mizzou
Colorado
A&M
Texas
TCU
Okie State
Kansas
Wisconsin
Minnesota
West Virginia (this year)

I can tell you Kansas is the worst. They had a semi trailer toilet setup past one of their end zones. Edwin Arceo was in there for a while during a game.
Okie State looks nice inside the bowl but there is nothing special about it. Under all those seats are tons of columns, pea gravel, and advertising signs.

 

[surly]

It's good Ku is saving the old building. The site will be very nice when properly renovated. Cal fixed theirs, why not Ku? Both have a bunch of doctors and lawyers to fund it.

 

[FarminCy]

So they're building seats for Nebraska fans now. Just like the good ol days. That would be typical B1G to add another bottom dweller like KU and then justify it with MBB and getting the KC market.

The two KU grads that I know are KU bball fans and NU football fans. They claim that since they have family in Nebraska it's OK that they are truly the worst bandwagon fans.

I guess getting to play NU every two years in Lawrence is a better plan to get KU bball fans to show up for 1 game every two years than what they've been doing.

 

[Bryce7]

That is a lot of bucks for 25k plush seats with backs and built in beer dispensers.

 

[Bryce7]

What are you talking about? I am a season ticket holder at KU and I do not have to buy any football tickets, let alone season tickets. Don't just make stuff up, that's a flat out lie.

Many KU fans do purchase season tickets to other KU sports as a way to earn more points per dollar than just donating the same amount of money to the Williams Education Fund. Every year, my family buys season tickets to women's volleyball and then donates them to a local high school volleyball program because we get more points than if we just donated the money directly.

All they mean by the "clear the deck" statement is that Zenger has gotten all of the other things that needed to be done (updates to AFH and new dorms for KU hoops, building new facilities for track, softball and soccer, etc...) completed so that the next big chunks of fundraising money can be focused on the football team. And I truly do believe that the additional money spent on the team's facilities as well as the focus on hiring better assistants to recruit better, will result in a better product on the field and more fans in attendance.

NOOOOO....we always need a sure win like UNI.

 

[Daserop]

Well, I guess KU feels real good about conference stability and/or their ability to move to another power conference. You just don't pay off a $300M bill in a short period of time unless you start charging LA Laker ticket prices for their MBB games.

They aren't doing that already?

 

[VeloClone]

They aren't doing that already?

Lakers Season Tickets for nose bleed sections are $38 per game. The lowest priced KU season ticket is $925 which comes out to $48.68 for a 19 home game season.

 

[Tornado man]

KU is one of the worst stadiums - but it certainly is in a gorgeous setting. Anxious to see what the plans are - I assume they will get rid of the horseshoe end zone stands, where the seats are soooo far away from the action.

 

[Gorm]

KU is one of the worst stadiums - but it certainly is in a gorgeous setting. Anxious to see what the plans are - I assume they will get rid of the horseshoe end zone stands, where the seats are soooo far away from the action.

I think they will go the other direction. Move the field back into the horseshoe and rebuild you press box in the center of the field. Texas did this when they removed their track and re-did their end zone.

Lowering the field and adding in a few more rows towards the bottom would bring the action closer to the field.

 

[surly]

Lowering the field and adding in a few more rows towards the bottom would bring the action closer to the field.

Lowering the field brings the action closer? Methinks not, except for the additional rows. Moving the field towards the bowl would bring those end zone seats closer.

 

[Gorm]

Lowering the field brings the action closer? Methinks not, except for the additional rows. Moving the field towards the bowl would bring those end zone seats closer.

Right, sorry I did mean add additional rows. Much like Ohio State when they removed their track:

You can clearly see where the old stadium used to end.

 

[VeloClone]

Right, sorry I did mean add additional rows. Much like Ohio State when they removed their track:

You can clearly see where the old stadium used to end.

I believe what you meant was pretty clear to nearly everyone.

 

[surly]

There's been talk in Lawrence about removing the bowl entirely, squaring off that end, to bring the field closer and give better sight lines. It's pretty complex. But with $300 million, a lot of changes can be made to make Memorial a nice site for college football. Lots of good bones.