Per the Kansas City Star last month (SIAP) :

Most notably, the school’s news release on the project promises “a transformed David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium to open in August 2025,” with construction to start this December, after the end of the 2023 college football regular season.

- - - - -

That's practically Ironclad GoR type money

What is the end game here for KU:

Retain a fantastic coach in Lance Leipold?

Strive to "fill the gap" in Big XII football from the departure of Oklahoma and Texas?

Maybe something even more big picture that might better explain such an expenditure?

To show to the Big Ten and SEC that they're serious about investing in football, of course.

Would they care about filling the gap in the B12, or would they care about making themselves more appealing to a P2 conference? Either would love their basketball, it's a question of "will they get more appetizing football?"

(09-18-2023 10:48 AM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  To show to the Big Ten and SEC that they're serious about investing in football, of course.

Care to speculate on any "Kansas to the B1G" or "Kansas to the SEC" inklings?

Kansas is only big time football away from a B1G or SEC invite.

(09-18-2023 10:52 AM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  

(09-18-2023 10:48 AM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  To show to the Big Ten and SEC that they're serious about investing in football, of course.

Care to speculate on any "Kansas to the B1G" or "Kansas to the SEC" inklings?

Whenever the ACC falls apart, Kansas might have the opportunity to move to either P2 conference. They don't appear to be additive by themselves, at least not now. It's an outside chance, likely, but schools like Memphis and USF are investing similarly enormous amounts of money based on the even more remote chance of being invited to any power conference.

For those that have seen a game there, you know why. It's arguably the plainest of the pre-expansion Big 12 stadia.

I thought we were going to see a rendering of what’s to come within this post for $300million. Kansas will be able to do so much with that $300million vs building a new stadium. They can totally recreate and make drastic changes where as building a new stadium would cost way more than that todays cost.

You obviously haven't been to a game there.

(09-18-2023 10:48 AM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  To show to the Big Ten and SEC that they're serious about investing in football, of course.

^^^^ Ding ding ding!

They'll still be a basketball-first school, but football has maybe moved up from the field and is a clear cut #2 or even 1A now. UCLA has shown the way, UNC is next, if I was a KU admin I'd wonder "why not us?".

KU is a Flagship AAU and one of the all time top programs in basketball, roughly on par with UCLA/UNC/Duke/Kentucky. They should be dreaming bigger than the Big 12, even if that is their likely home for many years to come.

(09-18-2023 12:45 PM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  

(09-18-2023 10:48 AM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  To show to the Big Ten and SEC that they're serious about investing in football, of course.

^^^^ Ding ding ding!

They'll still be a basketball-first school, but football has maybe moved up from the field and is a clear cut #2 or even 1A now. UCLA has shown the way, UNC is next, if I was a KU admin I'd wonder "why not us?".

KU is a Flagship AAU and one of the all time top programs in basketball, roughly on par with UCLA/UNC/Duke/Kentucky. They should be dreaming bigger than the Big 12, even if that is their likely home for many years to come.

Kansas hoops is second only in valuation to Kentucky, ahead of Duke, North Carolina and UCLA. They would fit with either the SEC or Big 10, preferring the Big 10, but possibly having more of a likely spot in a 24 school SEC than a 24 school Big 10. Of the remaining schools unaffiliated with the SEC or Big 10 only Notre Dame carries a higher valuation. Folks need to let that sink in. Improve their football, and their football facilities and they leapfrog a lot of other schools.

Maybe because their stadium needs work?

Why would Northwestern want a new stadium, to join the NFL?

Sometimes it’s just a simple answer

(09-18-2023 01:05 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(09-18-2023 12:45 PM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  

(09-18-2023 10:48 AM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  To show to the Big Ten and SEC that they're serious about investing in football, of course.

^^^^ Ding ding ding!

They'll still be a basketball-first school, but football has maybe moved up from the field and is a clear cut #2 or even 1A now. UCLA has shown the way, UNC is next, if I was a KU admin I'd wonder "why not us?".

KU is a Flagship AAU and one of the all time top programs in basketball, roughly on par with UCLA/UNC/Duke/Kentucky. They should be dreaming bigger than the Big 12, even if that is their likely home for many years to come.

Kansas hoops is second only in valuation to Kentucky, ahead of Duke, North Carolina and UCLA. They would fit with either the SEC or Big 10, preferring the Big 10, but possibly having more of a likely spot in a 24 school SEC than a 24 school Big 10. Of the remaining schools unaffiliated with the SEC or Big 10 only Notre Dame carries a higher valuation. Folks need to let that sink in. Improve their football, and their football facilities and they leapfrog a lot of other schools.

I feel like this should be one of the least controversial statements out there in regards to realignment.

If Kansas had the football in there to go with their Basketball they would be one of the easiest invites for either the SEC or B1G to make. It doesn't even need to be a world beater of a team or facilities. Just better than what they have now.

(09-18-2023 12:45 PM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  

(09-18-2023 10:48 AM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  To show to the Big Ten and SEC that they're serious about investing in football, of course.

^^^^ Ding ding ding!

They'll still be a basketball-first school, but football has maybe moved up from the field and is a clear cut #2 or even 1A now. UCLA has shown the way, UNC is next, if I was a KU admin I'd wonder "why not us?".

KU is a Flagship AAU and one of the all time top programs in basketball, roughly on par with UCLA/UNC/Duke/Kentucky. They should be dreaming bigger than the Big 12, even if that is their likely home for many years to come.

If you are a basketball-first school, they may be happy where they are. The SEC is second tier. The Big 10 has crapped the bed in recent years. The Big 12 may well be the best basketball conference in the country, without it being close.

It is possible investment in a football stadium means they are trying to increase their competitiveness there and not some secret attempt to move up in conference stature.

Will they have to play elsewhere in 2024?

People are going to be mad when KU gets a P2 invite and their school didn't lol.

(09-18-2023 11:21 AM)DFW HOYA Wrote:  For those that have seen a game there, you know why. It's arguably the plainest of the pre-expansion Big 12 stadia.

Wow that’s a lot of aluminum.

(09-18-2023 01:29 PM)AssKickingChicken Wrote:  Will they have to play elsewhere in 2024?

Nope. We're doing the stadium rebuild in two phases, so there's going to be half capacity in 24 and 25.

obvious answer is obvious?

I've mentioned Kansas' development plans for a long while now. Nice to see that others (besides JRsec) are finally starting to take notice