LAWRENCE — KU athletic director Travis Goff recently shared some updates about the progress of the university’s Gateway District project, a multi-phase endeavor that includes efforts to create a reimagined David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.

Is the first phase going to be completed in time for the football season?

Goff outlined that everything is on track with the first phase of the project, meaning the stadium is set to be available for the Aug. 23 home opener this year against Fresno State. Four words that people around the project enjoy saying, he detailed, are on time, on budget. This phase includes the construction of the new-look southwest, west, and north portions of the football stadium, as well as the Anderson Family Football Complex.

The only thing Goff mentioned as lagging behind a bit is the conference center on the north side, which he anticipates being open and active in time during the middle of the fall.

What construction still needs to be done between now and the start of the football season?

Although Goff said they are in striking distance of finishing the core components of the exterior of the new-look portions of the stadium, there is still a lot to be done in the interior. That includes work on areas like the suites, as well as lighting and signage.

One thing fans and athletes alike can look forward to is an area that will be set up to honor both the program’s past and present, so there’s an understanding of what’s been accomplished in the past and what they’re trying to do in the future.

Asked what the number of attendance capacity will be this fall, understanding a sellout crowd in 2023 was listed at 47,233, Goff only went as far as to say it’ll be 40,000 something.

What kind of progress is being made with the second phase?

Goff spoke confidently about the work that’s underway to be ready to move into the second phase of the project, which is anticipated to include work on the remaining parts of the stadium and development in the surrounding area. There are two major fronts, in Goff’s mind, when it comes to that.

One of those areas is fundraising, as Goff highlighted, embarking on a project like this isn’t possible without donor support. He volunteered that they are on the cusp of some incredible commitments in that regard.

The other significant area is working through some of the municipal incentives that can help make that second phase a reality. Goff thinks both aspects are within striking distance, as they work to meet an ambitious timeline of being able to “continue moving with intention through ’25 and into ’26 with some additional construction.”

The next couple of months will be critical in that respect.

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at [email protected] or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.