KU unveils $350M campaign to renovate Memorial Stadium, other facilities

LAWRENCE — Kansas Athletics has unveiled renderings for the renovation of 97-year-old Memorial Stadium, part of a five-year, $350 million fundraising effort that was officially announced by KU on Friday night.

The project, called “Raise The Chant,” will earmark roughly $315 million for football while also providing upgrades for Allen Fieldhouse, volleyball’s Horejsi Center and baseball’s Hoglund Ballpark.

“It’s an exciting day,” KU athletic director Sheahon Zenger said. “You dream of days like this in your career when you can announce these types of numbers.”

Zenger first spoke about the Memorial Stadium renovation at a Kansas City alumni event in June. Full details were disclosed Friday, which included plans to:

▪ Construct a $15 million indoor football practice facility immediately following this season.

▪ Make $170 million in improvements to the south end zone and west side of the stadium after the 2018 season, which KU calls a “transformational construction” that includes premium seating, Founders’ Suites, a West Side Club Lounge, reserved chairback seating, a Letterwinners’ Club and a renovation of the suite tower with high-speed elevators.

▪ Enhance the north end zone and stadium’s east side at a to-be-determined time. The $130 million overhaul, according to KU, would include Legacy Loge Boxes with in-seat service.

Read more: http://www.salina.com/news/20170924/ku-unveils-350m-campaign-to-renovate-memorial-stadium-other-facilities