Mizzou Athletics receives historic $62 million gift
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Mizzou Athletics announced that it received the largest gift commitment in university history, on Monday morning. The department received a $62 million philanthropic commitment, which will support the renovations at Memorial Stadium and department's the Tiger Fund program.
MU said that the donor wished to remain anonymous, but designated $50 million of the donation to go toward's the upcoming renovations at Faurot Field, specifically in the north concourse. The remaining $12 million will go into Mizzou's Tiger fun, which is a program that was set up in 2023 to help with Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities for Tiger student-athletes.
“This extraordinary commitment is a major step toward fulfilling our vision to transform Memorial Stadium and create the best college football game-day atmosphere in the country,” Athletics Director Desiree Reed-Francois said in a press release, on Monday. “Our pivotal stadium project is not possible without our donor, whose passion for Mizzou’s success, coupled with humility, faith and generosity, are unparalleled. Mizzou Football fans displayed their passion last season with five consecutive home sellouts, and our donor’s momentous contribution will not only enhance those magical experiences at Memorial Stadium but will greatly impact our student-athletes across every sport as they pursue their dreams as Tigers."
The Memorial Stadium project was initially passed by the UM Board of Curators in Nov. Mizzou said the project will create a new premium seating component and an open-air mixed-use development along the north concourse area that could produce modernized year-round revenue opportunities. The project is expected to be complete by mid-August 2026.
There will be some immediate changes for the 2024 football season, as well, as the new expanded north video board with an upgraded sound system will be in place.
“Mizzou Athletics has generated tremendous momentum under the leadership of Desireé Reed-Francois, and this historic and transformational investment reflects the university’s vision for the modern model of intercollegiate athletics,” said University of Missouri President Mun Choi said in a press release. “The improvements to Memorial Stadium will have a generational impact on our university, our community and our state while providing an unmatched fan experience and best-in-class stadium environment for Coach Eliah Drinkwitz’s program. With this gift, the Tiger Fund program will also be able to further provide valuable resources for Mizzou’s 550 student-athletes so they can excel academically, athletically and holistically as champions on and off the field of competition.”
The upgrades to Faurot Field come after a historic 2023 Mizzou campaign, led by head coach Eli Drinkwitz. His Tiger team went 11-2 and finished as a Top-10 team in the country, with a Cotton Bowl win against Ohio State in Dec.
“A gift of this kind speaks to the tremendous loyalty this particular donor has for not only our football program, but all of our student-athletes at Mizzou,” Drinkwitz said. “Creating a game-day experience second to none is our goal. We can now take a significant step forward — thanks to this gift — in enhancing the atmosphere and fan amenities at Faurot Field. And we’ll be able to see the lasting impact of it for years to come. As I’ve said before, ‘Why Stop Now?’”
