photo by: Nick Krug

Fans raise their hands during the playing of the Alma Mater on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012 at Allen Fieldhouse.

University of Kansas Athletic Director Jeff Long on Friday shed a little more light on a proposed $20 million renovation to Allen Fieldhouse.

Although Long called the $20 million request in a capital improvement plan a “placeholder,” he told the Journal-World the project would likely consist of renovations to concession stands, restrooms and other fan experience projects in the fieldhouse.

But no official plans are in motion yet, and Long noted that the athletics department would still need to raise the funds from donations first.

“There were plans for that prior to my arrival,” said Long, who started in July 2018. “We’ve continued that planning piece, and we’ve got to do our fundraising in order to make that step. It’s part of a process.”

However, Long said the renovations would not have any effect on the essence of Allen Fieldhouse, one of the most celebrated basketball arenas in the country.

“It has nothing to do with the seating or changing the bowl,” he said. “We have no plans to change the authentic-ness of Allen Fieldhouse.”

The Kansas Board of Regents on Wednesday gave initial approval to a five-year capital improvement plan at Kansas universities, which included the listing for renovations to the fieldhouse. It also included a listing for $300 million worth of renovations to David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.

The Regents will consider giving final approval to the five-year plan, which would begin in July 2020, during their May meeting.

If the capital improvement plan stays intact, the fieldhouse renovations would occur during the 2021 fiscal year, which coincides with the 2020-21 academic year. The first phase of improvements to the football stadium, about $170 million worth of improvements, would take place over a three-year period beginning in the 2021 fiscal year. The remaining $130 million of improvements would begin in the 2025 fiscal year and continue some years after the five-year period covered in the capital improvement plan.