Memorial Stadium, Lawrence
Encyclopedia
University of Kansas Memorial Stadium is a football
stadium
located in Lawrence, Kansas
, on the campus of the University of Kansas
. The stadium is dedicated as a memorial to the KU students who died in World War I
. The primary use of the stadium is to host the University's football
and track and field
intercollegiate athletics teams.
Memorial Stadium was built in 1920 funded by students, faculty, and fans. Originally the stadium had only east and west bleachers, which were expanded southward in 1925. The north bowl seating section was added in 1927 to give the stadium its horseshoe shape which it retains today. The west bleachers were expanded significantly upwards in 1963, with similar additions to the east side in 1965. A major renovation in 1978 repaired concrete and upgraded home and visiting team facilities.
Permanent lights were installed in 1997 and the current infrastructure is the result of a 1998 renovation. The press box and scholarship suites saw significant improvement and expansion in 1999, and the MegaVision video board was installed in the same year.
The track that rings the stadium has been resurfaced several times, most recently in 1999.
The field has been artificial turf since 1970. In the summer of 2009 the old AstroPlay surface was replaced with FieldTurf
.
A new scoreboard with two video strips was mounted at the top of the stadium's north bowl for the 2005 season, correcting a quirk of the stadium that north-driving teams had no way to see the clock without turning around. In 2006, the playing field was named Kivisto Field in honor of prominent donor Tom Kivisto.
On October 6, 2006 at precisely 11:27am, the University of Kansas broke ground on the new $31-million Anderson Family Football Complex and it opened in 2008. The building includes offices, academic areas, a weight room, locker rooms, an audio-visual room, meeting rooms, a cardio room, a hydro-therapy room, a nutrition area and a display area. It is also joined by new practice fields to the southeast of the stadium.
On September 17, 2009, the Kansas Board of Regents approved a $34 million addition of luxury seating on the east side of the stadium. The addition, known as the Gridiron Club, will increase the stadium's capacity by 3,000 seats. However, as of 2011, construction has yet to begin.
hill to the south. A then-record crowd of 51,574 saw the Jayhawks defeat Kansas State
25-18 in 1973.
At the Jayhawks' November 5, 2005 streak-snapping 40-15 victory over Nebraska, it was announced that that attendance record was broken, with a standing-room-only crowd of 51,750.
On November 18, 2006 a then attendance record of 51,821 fans watched the Jayhawks defeat Kansas State
, 39–20. The home attendance average of 44,137 in seven games during the year set a new season record, surpassing the prior season's record of 43,675 in six contests. Over the last three seasons, stadium attendance has averaged more than 41,000 per game.
On November 1, 2008 the Jayhawks set a new record of 52,230 fans in attendance. The Jayhawks beat Kansas State 52-21 in the Sunflower Showdown
.
On September 5, 2009 Kansas broke the record again as 52,530 fans watched the Jayhawks defeat Northern Colorado in the opening game of the Jayhawks' 2009 season
.
track and field event every year since 1923, except in 1943, 1944 and 1945 due to World War II
and 1998 and 1999 due to construction. The Relays annually see top area high school
and intercollegiate competitors, and the open events often draw Olympic
runners such as Maurice Greene
and Marion Jones
. The Kansas Relays is the location where world-record holder Justin Gatlin
tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in 2006. Gatlin is currently serving an eight year suspension.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
stadium
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
located in Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
, on the campus of the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
. The stadium is dedicated as a memorial to the KU students who died in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The primary use of the stadium is to host the University's football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
intercollegiate athletics teams.
Construction and Renovation
Permanent lights were installed in 1997 and the current infrastructure is the result of a 1998 renovation. The press box and scholarship suites saw significant improvement and expansion in 1999, and the MegaVision video board was installed in the same year.
The track that rings the stadium has been resurfaced several times, most recently in 1999.
The field has been artificial turf since 1970. In the summer of 2009 the old AstroPlay surface was replaced with FieldTurf
FieldTurf
FieldTurf is a brand of artificial turf playing surface. It is manufactured and installed by the FieldTurf Tarkett division of Tarkett Inc., based in Calhoun, Georgia, USA. In the late 1990s, the artificial surface changed the industry with a design intended to replicate real grass...
.
A new scoreboard with two video strips was mounted at the top of the stadium's north bowl for the 2005 season, correcting a quirk of the stadium that north-driving teams had no way to see the clock without turning around. In 2006, the playing field was named Kivisto Field in honor of prominent donor Tom Kivisto.
On October 6, 2006 at precisely 11:27am, the University of Kansas broke ground on the new $31-million Anderson Family Football Complex and it opened in 2008. The building includes offices, academic areas, a weight room, locker rooms, an audio-visual room, meeting rooms, a cardio room, a hydro-therapy room, a nutrition area and a display area. It is also joined by new practice fields to the southeast of the stadium.
On September 17, 2009, the Kansas Board of Regents approved a $34 million addition of luxury seating on the east side of the stadium. The addition, known as the Gridiron Club, will increase the stadium's capacity by 3,000 seats. However, as of 2011, construction has yet to begin.
Capacity
The stadium's current official capacity is 50,071, although the horseshoe shape allows tailgaters to view the game from the CampanileCampanile
Campanile is an Italian word meaning "bell tower" . The term applies to bell towers which are either part of a larger building or free-standing, although in American English, the latter meaning has become prevalent.The most famous campanile is probably the Leaning Tower of Pisa...
hill to the south. A then-record crowd of 51,574 saw the Jayhawks defeat Kansas State
Kansas State Wildcats football
The Kansas State Wildcats football program is the intercollegiate football program of the Kansas State University Wildcats. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big 12 Conference...
25-18 in 1973.
At the Jayhawks' November 5, 2005 streak-snapping 40-15 victory over Nebraska, it was announced that that attendance record was broken, with a standing-room-only crowd of 51,750.
On November 18, 2006 a then attendance record of 51,821 fans watched the Jayhawks defeat Kansas State
Kansas State Wildcats football
The Kansas State Wildcats football program is the intercollegiate football program of the Kansas State University Wildcats. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big 12 Conference...
, 39–20. The home attendance average of 44,137 in seven games during the year set a new season record, surpassing the prior season's record of 43,675 in six contests. Over the last three seasons, stadium attendance has averaged more than 41,000 per game.
On November 1, 2008 the Jayhawks set a new record of 52,230 fans in attendance. The Jayhawks beat Kansas State 52-21 in the Sunflower Showdown
Sunflower Showdown
The Sunflower Showdown is the series of athletic contests between Kansas State University and the University of Kansas, most notably football and men's basketball. The name is derived from the official nickname for the state of Kansas: the Sunflower State....
.
On September 5, 2009 Kansas broke the record again as 52,530 fans watched the Jayhawks defeat Northern Colorado in the opening game of the Jayhawks' 2009 season
2009 Kansas Jayhawks football team
The 2009 Kansas Jayhawks football team represented the University of Kansas for the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision intercollegiate football season of 2009-2010 which was the school's 120th season...
.
Kansas Jayhawks football
- In 2005, the Jayhawks went undefeated at Memorial Stadium for the first time since 1951. The team allowed just two touchdowns in first quarters at home during the season.
- In 2007, the Jayhawks went undefeated at home again, highlighted by a 76–39 victory over Nebraska. The 76 points by the Jayhawks was the third most scored in Kansas history, and also the most points given up in Nebraska history.
The Kansas Relays
Memorial Stadium has also hosted the Kansas RelaysKansas Relays
The Kansas Relays are a three day track meet every April held at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. Since 1923 the Kansas relays has attracted runners, throwers, and jumpers from all over the United States of America; with athletes ranging from Olympians to high school runners...
track and field event every year since 1923, except in 1943, 1944 and 1945 due to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and 1998 and 1999 due to construction. The Relays annually see top area high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
and intercollegiate competitors, and the open events often draw Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
runners such as Maurice Greene
Maurice Greene (athlete)
Maurice Greene is a retired American track and field sprinter who specialized in the 100 meters and 200 meters. He is a former 100 m world record holder with a time of 9.79 seconds. During the height of his career he won four Olympic medals and was a five-time World Champion...
and Marion Jones
Marion Jones
Marion Lois Jones , also known as Marion Jones-Thompson, is a former world champion track and field athlete, and a former professional basketball player for Tulsa Shock in the WNBA...
. The Kansas Relays is the location where world-record holder Justin Gatlin
Justin Gatlin
Justin Gatlin is an American sprinter. He is an Olympic gold medalist, with a 100 m personal best of 9.85 seconds. He served a four-year ban from track and field for testing positive for a banned substance; Gatlin had appealed the ban in 2009, but it was later denied.- Biography :Gatlin attended...
tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in 2006. Gatlin is currently serving an eight year suspension.
Top Crowds
The following are the top 10 largest crowds in stadium history:- 1. 52,530 September 5, 2009 vs Northern Colorado
- 2. 52,230 November 1, 2008 vs Kansas State
- 3. 52,112 August 30, 2008 vs Florida International
- 4. 51,930 November 15, 2008 vs #5 Texas
- 5. 51,910 November 3, 2007 vs Nebraska
- 6. 51,821 November 18, 2006 vs Kansas State
- 7. 51,767 September 20, 2008 vs Sam Houston State
- 8. 51,750 November 5, 2005 vs Nebraska
- 9. 51,574 October 13, 1973 vs Kansas State
- 10. 51,525 November 14, 2009 vs Nebraska