Kansas head coach Lance Leipold walks the sidelines during the first quarter on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023 at Memorial Stadium. Photo by Nick Krug

The Kansas football team’s annual Spring Showcase will take place on April 12 at 7 p.m. at Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence, KU announced Tuesday morning.

The event, which is less a traditional spring game and more a practice with some scrimmage-like elements, will come near the conclusion of KU’s spring practices. Last year’s showcase served as the last of 15 practices that began on Feb. 28, 2023; this year’s spring practice schedule, with a somewhat later start, has not yet begun or been formally announced.

Setting the Spring Showcase at Rock Chalk Park — where head coach Lance Leipold previously said the coaching staff would be relocated after returning from the bowl game in late December — allows it to stay in Lawrence even as construction is in full swing at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, thus giving local fans an opportunity to see the Jayhawks (last year’s event had free admission).

KU will play its home games in the fall at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas, beginning with the opener against Lindenwood on Aug. 29, and later GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.

This year’s team will return a significant amount of production on offense, including quarterback Jalon Daniels (whose health will likely be a frequent topic of discussion during the spring), running back Devin Neal and wide receivers Lawrence Arnold, Luke Grimm and Quentin Skinner, and on defense will see players like linebacker Jayson Gilliom and safeties O.J. Burroughs and Marvin Grant elevated into more prominent roles.

KU has added a few key transfers, such as center Shane Bumgardner and tight end DeShawn Hanika, but offseason turnover has had a greater effect on the coaching staff, which will have a new offensive coordinator, co-defensive coordinator/cornerbacks coach, and offensive line coach next season.