LAWRENCE, Kan. (Sep. 3, 2026) – The project team behind Phase 2 of the University of Kansas (KU) Gateway District delivered the south grandstands and the lower bowl seating on the east side of the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium to the University of Kansas (KU), enabling approximately 8,400 additional fans to enjoy home games during the 2026 football season.
The milestone ensures that the Jayhawks can practice and play their full 2026 home football schedule at the stadium while construction on the broader mixed-use district — which will feature student housing, a hotel, retail space, and a plaza — continues safely around the live sports calendar.
The handoff represents a massive logistical achievement by the project team, which includes master developer Edgemoor/Sunflower Partners and design-builder Clark-JE Dunn, A Joint Venture. Since December 2025, the team has been working to transform the stadium’s east and south sides into a safe, comfortable environment for fans during the upcoming season. While the full stadium completion is targeted ahead of the 2027 season, this initial hand-off delivers the critical elements needed for a high-quality gameday experience this fall.
“From the outset, we planned this project so KU fans could safely enjoy the 2026 football season in their home stadium,” said Dan Moylan, Development Director for Edgemoor/Sunflower Partners. “Reaching this milestone is a reflection of the strong collaboration between KU and our team as we continue creating a connected, year-round destination for KU and the broader Lawrence community.”
“We couldn’t tell you that we always knew or took for granted that we’d roll straight from phase one right into phase two,” Kansas Director of Athletics Travis Goff said. “Projects of this magnitude aren’t always a given. So just knowing back in December (that) we had the foot back on the gas, we weren’t going to take a year off, we were going to keep moving this project forward, this vision forward. That was a big deal the first time they took a chunk out of this old east-side concrete. There was no turning back on finishing phase two…A year ago, none of us believed we would have the permanent lights up here. Credit to the project team. It was a Herculean task to get those up until now for this fall, especially as we open up with two Friday night games, 7 p.m. kicks. The project team absolutely exceeded high, high expectations for what could be done.”
To pull off this complex effort, the project team collaborated closely with university leadership to execute a strategic phased construction approach. By hyper-focusing labor and sequencing on elements critical to the gameday experience, crews completed a significant portion of the stadium structure before temporarily halting work in the fan seating areas, so supporters can safely occupy those sections throughout the 2026 season.
Approximately 40 percent of the east and south side seating will be available for gamedays this fall. At this time, construction will shift seamlessly to the district’s two-level parking garage and student housing components, allowing KU to capture gameday revenue and maintain home-field advantage while progress on other elements of Phase 2 continues uninterrupted. Work on the stadium event level, below the lower bowl seating, will continue throughout the season.
“Preparing a stadium for football operations while major construction continues around it requires disciplined planning, detailed sequencing, and constant coordination. Our team remains focused on schedule, the fan experience, and safely advancing work across the stadium and the larger Gateway District,” said Chris Desko, Project Executive with Clark–JE Dunn, A Joint Venture.
Following the conclusion of the 2026 home schedule, the project team will return to construction on the active stadium bowl, including the completion of the upper bowl, permanent concessions, restrooms, and premium hospitality spaces ahead of the 2027 season.
