UM Board of Curators formally approve Memorial Stadium Improvements Project

By Kyle Helms

September 12, 2024 10:18 PM

Published September 12, 2024 12:54 PM

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The UM Board of Curators unanimously voted to formally approve the Memorial Stadium Improvements Project on Thursday afternoon. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey attended the meeting alongside university leadership, including Mizzou Athletics Director Laird Veatch, University of Missouri President Mun Choi, Chair of the UM Board of Curators Robin Wenneker and Curator Bob Blitz.

“This is an incredible statement by our Board of Curators and President Choi,” Mizzou football coach Eli Drinkwitz said in Thursday's press release. “Their leadership has been instrumental in pushing this project forward. These stadium improvements are crucial for recruiting and developing the next generation of Tigers. We’re building something special here, and a renovated Memorial Stadium will be the heartbeat of that progress."

"[Thursday's] landmark decision to approve major renovations to historic Memorial Stadium reflects the board’s deep commitment to the University of Missouri Athletics and Mizzou Football," Wenneker said in Thursday's press release. “I’m extremely proud of the leadership our board and our administration have shown in enhancing the experience our fans so richly deserve. Our significant investments demonstrate our resolve to being highly competitive in the SEC and match our drive for global competitiveness across the entire university. This project will ensure that Memorial Stadium remains a source of pride for all Missourians and the greater Mizzou family for years to come."

Mizzou Athletics also announced it will hold a ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony on Nov. 30, the same day as the football team's home regular season finale against Arkansas.

The proposed plans for the $250 million Memorial Stadium Improvements Project were approved by the UM Board of Curators back in April. It's centered around a reimagined, multi-level north concourse and will feature enhancements to the gameday experience throughout the stadium.

“The most public-facing signal of championship expectations is the quality of an institution’s football stadium,” Blitz, the chair of the UM Board of Curators' Mizzou Intercollegiate Athletics Special Committee, said in Thursday's press release. “Failure to invest now would cause a rapid decline in our fast-rising championship program.”

The renovations for the north concourse and other stadium improvements are listed below.

14 Outdoor Field-Level Suites
150 Loge Boxes
28 Premium Suites
28 Tiger Den Suites
250 Club Seats
300-Person Rock M Club
500-Person Mezzanine Club Seating
Stadium-Wide Renovated Concessions and Bathrooms
Conversion of South End Zone's Bunker Club into Recruiting Center
New Retail Outlet for Mizzou Merchandise
New Stadium Entry Plaza
Year-Round Event Space
Enhanced Videoboard & Upgraded Sound System
LED Field Lighting
Improved Wi-Fi
Improved Wayfinding & Graphics
Renovated Ribbon Boards
Stadium Structural Improvements
HVAC for Visitor's Locker Room
Auxiliary Locker Room Conversion

This transformation of Memorial Stadium is expected to raise its total capacity from 62,621 to about 65,000 people. The new north concourse will be approximately 191,000 gross square feet total, including about 99,000 gross square feet of enclosed conditioned area.

"This project is a game-changer for Mizzou Football, our fans and our student-athletes,” Veatch said in Thursday's press release. “This could not be possible without the leadership of our Board of Curators and President Choi. Their unwavering commitment continues to push Mizzou Athletics on an upward trajectory. This historic stadium renovation will not only enhance the overall fan experience but provide the resources necessary for our program to compete at the highest level in the SEC."

You can find updated renderings of the project, courtesy of the UM System Board of Curators, below.