Kansas Football gameday to feature improvements for fans
LAWRENCE, Kan. –Although he stole all the headlines, national championship winning head coach Les Miles is not the only significant change fans can expect this football season. After a thorough review by athletic department staff, there are a long list of changes and improvements that fans can expect to see at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in 2019. A breakdown of the changes is listed below:
TAILGATE GUYS
Tailgate Guys is the industry-leading firm that is revolutionizing the tailgating at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. They provide turnkey tailgating support and services, including a variety of services that help enhance the game day experience:
- Premium reserved tailgate location, steps from the stadium
- Bellhop and unloading services for your car upon arrival
- Food and beverage catering services
- Coolers with ice
- Tents, tables, chairs, and media package services
- Equipment clean up and breakdown.
“There is a great history of tailgating on Campanile Hill,” said Chris Freet, deputy athletics director at KU, “but in recent history it has been almost exclusively for large groups and corporate outings. We are excit5ed to bring back tailgating offerings to small groups of families and friends in the most picturesque location on campus.”
RIDESHARE SERVICE
As the demand and usage of rideshare apps like Lyft and Uber has increased, the KU facilities staff has continuously worked on ways to make this process easier on gamedays at Memorial Stadium. The preferred rideshare drop-off point for pre-game traffic is on Memorial Drive at the top of the hill, south of the stadium. A pick-up location outside of the post-game traffic pattern has been established just one block east of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in metered parking on the west side of Indiana Street in conjunction with the HERE Apartment complex.
IMPROVED PARKING
Lot 94, located on the east side of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium was recently resurfaced and restriped. The project provides improved ADA accessible parking stalls. Additionally, with the completion of the new Indoor Practice Facility, Williams Education Fund regained more than 180 prime parking spaces on the west side of the stadium, including 14 ADA accessible spots.
NEW HAWK WALK
The Jayhawks will arrive at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium two hours and 15 minutes before kickoff. They will be dropped off on the southeast corner of the stadium in Lot 94, with Hawk Walk taking place as they walk from their drop off around the south perimeter and into the stadium. Fans can line the walk and greet them as they arrive for the day’s game.
INDOOR FOOTBALL PRACTICE FACILITY
The new Indoor Practice Facility (IPF) will be used on gameday as a meeting place for larger group events during the 2019 season. Varsity Cheer and Youth Football have already secured pregame events inside the IPF for two of KU’s home games. Varsity Cheer has teamed up with Kansas Athletics to host a performance at halftime of the Oklahoma game on Saturday, Oct. 5, and will use the facility as a rehearsal space before their on-field experience. Youth Football Day will be held on Saturday, Nov. 2 prior to the Kansas State game. Both groups will host more than 400 youth prior to each game.
NEW TEAM ENTRANCE
The Jayhawks and new head coach Les Miles will take the field for game day in a newly designed team tunnel featuring updated branding and messaging. Pyrotechnics will be included in an effort to enhance the atmosphere in the moments right before kickoff.
ALCOHOL SALES
This season KU becomes the sixth Big 12 institution to make beer and wine available for purchase.
“In consultation with the University, Kansas Athletics over the last couple of years had introduced the sale of beer and wine at selected venues (baseball, softball and soccer) on a trial basis to help assess the viability of a broader offering of alcoholic beverages,” KU Athletics Director Jeff Long said. “That program has been very successful, and with the support and collaboration of on-campus entities, we are now prepared to expand it. Fans have told us that one of the best ways to enhance their experience at Kansas Athletics events is for them to have the ability to enjoy beer and wine, and we are pleased to provide this opportunity.”
As part of the new program, Kansas Athletics is instituting a “No Re-Entry/No Pass” policy that will be strictly enforced at the stadium. In addition, alcohol sales will be suspended at the end of the third quarter.
Sales will be managed by Centerplate, Kansas Athletics’ concessionaire. “KU and Centerplate are dedicated to responsible service and will collaborate on a Responsible Alcohol Service policy to provide a safe environment while providing a superior customer experience,” Long said. “As an example, those involved in the sale of alcohol will be required to be TIPS-certified (Training for Intervention Procedures).”
Nationally, approximately 50 Division I FBS programs have public alcohol sales on football game days, and in April 2018 the NCAA approved alcohol sales at NCAA Championship events.
The following will be available for purchase in 2019: Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, Goose Island IPA, Bon & Viv Spiked Seltzer, Cabernet Sauvignon red wine, Chardonnay white wine. Additional options will be available for purchase.
“Our research and that of others indicates that not only does alcohol availability promote attendance and improve the game-day experience for fans, it has the potential to reduce alcohol-related incidents in and around the venue,” Long said.
GAMEDAY CONCESSIONS
Kansas Athletics’ official concessionaire, Centerplate, will offer the following new menu items for 2019 season: Cheeseburger Rollers and Chicken Rollers..
NEW LED RIBBON BOARDS IN NORTH END ZONE
Two brand new outdoor LED 13mm HD boards were installed in the north end zone of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium to provide fans with improved viewing of game stats, crowd prompts and more. Each board is 60 inches tall and 84 inches wide.
CRIMSON & BLUE BBQ
Kansas Athletics is hosting its first-ever Crimson and Blue BBQ Friday, Aug. 30-Sunday, Sept. 1 in the east parking lot (Lot 94) of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. As an officially sanctioned KCBS event, teams entered will have a chance to qualify to compete in the American Royal Barbeque.
Registration includes tickets to the Kansas vs. Indiana State football game on August 31. Entrants will compete in the “People’s Choice” competition on Saturday and the judged competition on Sunday. Fan votes on Saturday will help determine the “People’s Choice” winner. Cash prizes will be awarded both days. For more information and to register your team follow this link.
Tickets are just $20 and include admission to the BBQ area and the stadium. Additionally, fans who have already purchased a KU vs. Indiana State football ticket will receive access to the BBQ area for $10. Tickets are available here.
SEASON TICKET DISCOUNT FOR STATE OF KANSAS EMPLOYEES
Kansas Athletics introduced a new 20% discount for State of Kansas employees on football season tickets. The discount extends across all ticket prices for Kansas Jayhawks’ football.
“As the flagship institution of the state of Kansas, it’s our honor to offer this discount to the thousands and thousands of employees that help our great state thrive every day,” said Jeff Long, Director of Athletics.
The discount will connect thousands of Sunflower state employees, as the Jayhawks bring in a new era of Kansas football. The discount is available for all State of Kansas employees, with verification of the state agency. The discount applies for a maximum of two tickets and is available at any of the four season ticket price levels. To access the State of Kansas football season tickets discount, click here.
