photo by: Shawn Valverde

Demolition work on David Booth Memorial Stadium is pictured on Dec. 22, 2023.

Over the last several weeks, construction work on a $448 million renovation of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium has advanced. Crews are in demolition mode on a portion of the historic stadium.

Plans call for the west side and north end of the stadium to be largely demolished and rebuilt, while the east side and south end of the stadium will remain largely intact.

The west side of the stadium will be rebuilt with new amenities and seating that is closer to the playing field, while the north end of the stadium will include both seating and a new conference and events center.

photo by: Shawn Valverde

Crews demolish the western portion of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, as seen from Farmbrough Drive on Dec. 22, 2023.

The conference center is part of a larger Gateway District that KU intends to create at the stadium site at 11th and Mississippi streets. Plans call for that district to have a hotel, retail, restaurants and other commercial spaces, along with student housing. However, KU is still awaiting specific proposals from private development companies that have applied to be partners with KU on the project.

KU is expected to make decisions on those private development proposals this winter. Work on the stadium itself is expected to be completed in August 2025, although KU leaders recently have expressed concern about that timeline. KU leaders have said they may need to move home football games for the 2024 season to an offsite location — Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium is the most likely site — to keep the construction project on schedule. KU originally had planned to play 2024 games at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, although seating capacity for fans would be greatly reduced.

KU Chancellor Douglas Girod confirmed to the Journal-World last week that KU has had discussions with Arrowhead officials about using the stadium for 2024 games because there is now a fear that playing games on campus would delay the stadium project past its August 2025 completion date. Girod said KU hasn’t reached a deal to play at Arrowhead, and would prefer to find a solution to keep games on campus. He said a decision likely would need to be made in the next month.

photo by: Shawn Valverde

A construction worker observes demolition work on David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium from Farmbrough Drive on Dec. 22, 2023.

photo by: Shawn Valverde

Demolition work on David Booth Memorial Stadium is pictured on Dec. 22, 2023.