Turner Finishes $400m Kansas Football Stadium Overhaul

The University of Kansas has unveiled its extensively rebuilt David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium after a $400 million Kansas football stadium renovation led by Turner Construction.

The stadium now forms the centrepiece of the university’s wider Gateway District development in Lawrence.

The redevelopment involved the partial demolition and structural rebuild of the historic arena, delivering new press boxes, club and premium suites, concessions, retail areas and a dedicated fan experience zone. 

A new entrance at 11th and Mississippi Street now serves as a gateway to the campus and surrounding community.

Kansas Director of Athletics Travis Goff praised the contractor’s efforts throughout the demanding schedule. “We are so grateful to Turner Construction for their incredible efforts on the transformed David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium,” Goff said. 

“It was inspiring to watch the countless Turner employees work tirelessly regardless if it was snowing or a blistering 100-degree heat. They completed the job on time, on budget and in a first-class fashion.”

RELATED: Man Utd Plans Mega Stadium Next to Old Trafford

Beyond football, the stadium has been designed as a year-round venue. It will host conferences, entertainment, dining and retail, including a 55,000-square-foot conference centre – an amenity the university says the region has long lacked.

The project also extended to the Anderson Family Football Complex, with Turner renovating and adding to the team offices and training facilities it originally built in 2008. 

The works reinforce a long-standing relationship between the contractor and the university, spanning more than two dozen projects.

Jason Brown, Project Executive at Turner, highlighted the sheer scale of the Kansas football stadium construction effort. “Together, they worked around the clock, safely logging more than 1.6 million work hours,” he said. 

“Their tireless commitment and craftsmanship have helped create a destination that will serve KU fans, students, and the community for generations to come.”

Turner, one of the country’s largest builders of sports venues, has also delivered projects including the $2.1 billion New Highmark Stadium in Buffalo and New York City Football Club’s forthcoming $780 million Etihad Park.

For Turner President and Kansas alumnus Abrar Sheriff, the project held personal significance. “As a proud University of Kansas alumnus, it is incredibly meaningful to have partnered with the University on a project that will have a lasting impact on the campus and community,” he said. 

“David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium will serve as a gateway to pride and progress for generations of students and fans.”

With its first official practice now held on the new field, and with a modernised Kansas football stadium capacity designed to meet growing demand, the project signals not only an investment in sport but in the broader identity and economy of Lawrence and the wider region.

Join 15,000+ pros getting our weekly digest of news and insights.