photo by: AdobeStock

A member of the US Army Golden Knights parachutes in to the the 2022 Miramar Airshow while his aircraft lands in the backgroud at San Diego, California.

UPDATED 3 P.M. AUG. 22

Flyovers, parachutists, and, perhaps, some fashion coordination are all on tap for the grand re-opening of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

KU officials announced Friday that a team of F-35 fighter jets will fly over the stadium at about 5:15 p.m on Saturday, which is about 15 minutes before the Jayhawks kick-off their season against Fresno State.

In addition to the U.S. Air Force fighter jets, look for the U.S. Army to drop by as well. A C-147 transport plane also will fly over the stadium, carrying members of the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team, who will parachute into the newly renovated stadium.

The sights, however, are expected to extend into the stands as well. KU is asking spectators to participate in a “Stripe out the Booth” event where every section in the grandstands will alternate between fans clad in blue and white.

To pull off that feat, fans will need to plan their wardrobes ahead of time. KU will be passing out shirts to fans in the student seating areas, but fans in other sections are being asked to come to the stadium dressed accordingly.

Here’s a look at the sections numbers of the stadium that are asked to dress in white: 101, 103, 106, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 133, 18, 20, 22, 24, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 210, 212, 213,216, 218, 221, 301, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 311, 313, 401, 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 411, 413, 414.

Here are the sections asked to dress in blue: 102, 104, 105, 107, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 17, 19, 23, 25, 26, 134, 202, 204, 206, 208, 211, 214, 215, 217, 219, 220, 303, 305, 307, 309, 312, 403, 405, 407, 409, 412.

The variety of spectacles all are part of a celebration of more than $400 million in improvements to the football stadium at 11th and Mississippi streets on the north end of KU’s campus. The renovations are the first of two phases to build what KU is calling its Gateway District. The second phase is scheduled to begin after the conclusion of this football season and will include the construction of a hotel to connect to the stadium and the new 1,000-seat banquet hall and conference center that was added to the north bowl of the stadium during the phase one renovations.

The phase II renovations also will include a tear down and rebuilding of the east grandstands of the stadium, new parking on the east side of the stadium, retail and restaurant spaces and more than 400 living units of student housing. All told, the two phases of the projects are expected to include about $750 million of improvements.

Saturday’s game will mark the reopening of the stadium, after the Jayhawks played all their home contests last season in the Kansas City metro area while the KU stadium was under construction.

Be aware that it won’t just be fans who will notice many changes upon returning to the stadium after a year’s hiatus. Motorists should be aware of a major change too. The portion of 11th Street that runs directly north of the stadium will be closed to traffic before and during the game. The stretch of street will be used to house a pre-game party area for all home, KU football games this season.

As for the flyovers, Lawrence residents got a sneak peek today, as the F-35s did a practice run at 2:30 p.m., and the C-147 was scheduled to do a practice run at 8 p.m.

The F-35s are part of an Air Force squadron stationed at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. The Golden Knights are stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on Monday, July 28, 2025. Photo by Nick Krug