Jayhawks AD Goff on David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium: ‘Capacity will be over 40k’

Kansas athletic director Travis Goff on Friday morning pushed back against reports that seating capacity at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium will drop as part of the university’s “11th and Mississippi Project.”

The gateway project will transform the area near the intersection of 11th and Mississippi in Lawrence with new facilities that could include a mix of conference and entertainment space, as well as retail and other functions surrounding the stadium.

The Lawrence Journal-World initially reported on Thursday that an outside consultant hired by KU recommended that Kansas drop the stadium’s capacity from 47,233 to 39,839 in order to accommodate new facilities.

Goff pushed back on the report.

“I love our consultants, but capacity will be over 40k,” Goff tweeted early Friday morning. “The projected will have something for everyone — affordable tickets, the best premium seating, real home field advantage. Oh yeah, and parking & tailgating are priorities. We’re all over it, Hawks — remember, I’m one of you.

“Best way to make a statement of support is to be a season ticket holder and be in the building this fall! The past is the past — the future is now & we ALL need to step up to support this program. Never has been an (opportunity) like this one… are we going to capitalize!?”

Goff added: “Big 12 newcomers UH and UCF have SOLD OUT season tickets. Yes, they’ve been better programs in modern times. But, it’s time for all Hawks to step up in a tangible way. The reality of college athletics today: buy tickets, support NIL, donate… or you’re on the sideline.”

Plans for the project are due to be released during the latter half of this year.

“The Gateway Project will show the strong alignment between Kansas Athletics and our incredible University partners as we build a project that will leave an indelible mark for years and decades to come,” Goff said in June. “We are progressing in schematic design and have recently hired a construction manager who is refining the phased approach, timeline and cost projections.”

Renovations at the Anderson Family Football Complex are also underway.

“Work has already begun at Anderson Family Football Complex,” Goff said. “Crews began in mid-April and we’ve already seen great progress in both the locker room and weight room. We’re excited to unveil both of those new spaces to our football team when they report in July.”