KANSAS Jayhawks coach Lance Leipold can’t wait for the team’s stunning stadium redevelopment to be finished.
And Leipold is just as excited about making Wembley Stadium in London, England, feel like home this September.
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The last remaining stand at David Booth Stadium was demolished this year Credit: Kansas University
Two sides of the stadium were completed and opened in time for the 2025 season Credit: Kansas University
The stadium renovation will cost $750m Credit: Kansas University
Kansas began phase two of their $750 million stadium redevelopment this off-season.
The east stand at David Booth Memorial Stadium was demolished and will be fully rebuilt in time for the 2027 season.
When completed, it will be identical to the already completed west stand, which opened in time for the 2025 campaign.
Phase one cost the school $450m to complete two thirds of the new structure.
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Once the second stage is finished, there will be new student housing, a hotel, retail and office space.
“We’re real excited about that stadium,” Leipold told The Jattvibe.
“We did a $450m project on the two first two thirds of our stadium and renovate a lot of our football facilities that we use on daily basis with our players.
The whole project will cost in the region of $750m
Lance Leipold will lead his Kansas team into Wembley Stadium in London, England on September 19 Credit: Kansas Athletics
“Phase two is the next project, which is on the east side of our stadium, which is being erected right now and about half of that will be completed for the season.
“And then for 2027, the stadium will be completed, as well as some entertainment district and a hotel and everything built next to the stadium.
“We feel it will put us in the front edge of college football as far as facilities go.
“It’s been it’s an amazing project that is definitely going to benefit our university and our program.”
It means the Jayhawks will play in front of a reduced capacity in 2026.
Apart from one game on September 19 when they face the Arizona State Jattvibe Devils in the Union Jack Classic at Wembley Stadium.
Leipold visited the 90,000-seat stadium in north west London earlier this spring.
He said, “It was an awesome drive in to come in underneath and to see what this iconic stadium is really all about.
“I walked out and had a chance to take a small video of the field and it looked in pristine shape.
“The size of the stadium is very impressive of the stadium.
“It’s everything that I hoped that this would be when we decided to take on this this wonderful opportunity.
“This will be a life experience for our people but also I hope this is just the beginning of something special, which I see is that American college football is coming to the UK on a regular basis.”
