Completed Event: Men's Basketball at #13 Texas Tech on February 2, 2026 , Win , 64, to, 61
Final
Men's Basketball
64
at #13 Texas Tech
61
University of Kansas and Oak View Group Expand Partnership with Introduction of The Naismith Club
2/19/2026 1:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
Lawrence, KS (February 19, 2026) – The University of Kansas and Oak View Group (OVG), the global leader in premium live entertainment infrastructure and services, today announced the next phase of their partnership with the introduction of The Naismith Club at Allen Fieldhouse a new, members-only social club.
The club is expected to open in Summer 2026, with additional details on membership, programming, and opening events to be announced in the coming months. To receive membership information, please visit www.NaismithClubKU.com.
The Naismith Club will be a year-round gathering place connecting Kansas Athletics with the greater University and Lawrence communities. Expanding beyond a game-day destination, the club will offer a shared home for alumni, faculty, supporters, business leaders and community members to connect, work, host and celebrate. OVG will manage and operate the club in addition to its role as the football stadium and conference center operator for Gateway District, and food and beverage provider for all Kansas Athletics venues.
"As our partnership with OVG continues to evolve, this club allows us to create a unique connection point for our faculty, alumni, supporters, and community," said Kansas Director of Athletics Travis Goff said. "The Naismith Club is a natural extension of what Allen Fieldhouse represents with its incredible tradition, pride, and ability to bring people together."
Located within the home of Kansas Basketball, The Naismith Club will offer a premium and welcoming setting for hospitality, business meetings, social gatherings, and private events on a membership basis. Members of the Naismith Club and their guests will enjoy a newly renovated cocktail bar and lounge, an upscale dining room, and an espresso bar loft with coworking areas and flexible event space, supporting everything from daily use to milestone celebrations.
The culinary program will highlight local vendors and regional suppliers through a chef-driven, seasonally inspired menu that blends a thoughtfully crafted dining experience with approachability - reinforcing the club's role as a homegrown destination that feels authentic to both the University and the Lawrence communities. Kansas Athletics donors will maintain the same access to the transformed space on gamedays.
"The Naismith Club is intended to foster deeper fan engagement, strengthen alumni connection, and keep Allen Fieldhouse active and relevant year-round," said Ashley Kraus, Senior Vice President of Social Clubs for Oak View Group. "It's about honoring Kansas sports history while creating something meaningful for the University community today. The club reflects our shared commitment to premium hospitality, thoughtful design, and experiences that feel authentic to the Jayhawk tradition."
Named for James Naismith, the inventor of basketball and the University of Kansas' first men's basketball coach, The Naismith Club draws from his legacy through a contemporary American design. The space will feature warm neutral finishes accented with KU crimson and blue color palletes, champagne metal details, and subtle basketball-inspired elements that reflect both history and modern hospitality. The space is conveniently located above the Booth Family Hall of Athletics and adjacent to the DeBruce Center that houses the original rules of basketball, offering a full basketball immersive experience for members.
The launch of The Naismith Club further expands OVG's portfolio of University Social Clubs nationwide, an initiative to create modern, members-only spaces that deepen engagement on campus and extend the university experience beyond game days. Existing OVG Social Clubs include Arizona Sands Club (University of Arizona), Baylor Club (Baylor University), Ken Garff University Club (University of Utah), The Carolina Club (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), The Texas Tech Club (Texas Tech University), University Club of Virginia Tech (Virginia Tech), and University Club Alabama (University of Alabama).
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About Kansas Athletics
Kansas Athletics is a not-for-profit corporation which was organized in 1925 to foster development of intercollegiate athletics in conjunction with the educational activities of the University of Kansas. Kansas Athletics operates the varsity intercollegiate athletic programs (18 men's and women's intercollegiate teams) of the University of Kansas in facilities owned by the State of Kansas. A major comprehensive research and teaching university with an enrollment of approximately 27,000, the University provides outstanding excellence in education and research. Kansas Athletics is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
About Oak View Group
Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in premium live entertainment infrastructure and services, with a platform spanning venue development and end-to-end capabilities across venue management, hospitality, and sponsorship sales. Founded in 2015, the Company serves a collection of seven world-class owned venues and a client roster of the most iconic arenas, stadiums, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions, spanning four continents. Visit OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
The club is expected to open in Summer 2026, with additional details on membership, programming, and opening events to be announced in the coming months. To receive membership information, please visit www.NaismithClubKU.com.
The Naismith Club will be a year-round gathering place connecting Kansas Athletics with the greater University and Lawrence communities. Expanding beyond a game-day destination, the club will offer a shared home for alumni, faculty, supporters, business leaders and community members to connect, work, host and celebrate. OVG will manage and operate the club in addition to its role as the football stadium and conference center operator for Gateway District, and food and beverage provider for all Kansas Athletics venues.
"As our partnership with OVG continues to evolve, this club allows us to create a unique connection point for our faculty, alumni, supporters, and community," said Kansas Director of Athletics Travis Goff said. "The Naismith Club is a natural extension of what Allen Fieldhouse represents with its incredible tradition, pride, and ability to bring people together."
Located within the home of Kansas Basketball, The Naismith Club will offer a premium and welcoming setting for hospitality, business meetings, social gatherings, and private events on a membership basis. Members of the Naismith Club and their guests will enjoy a newly renovated cocktail bar and lounge, an upscale dining room, and an espresso bar loft with coworking areas and flexible event space, supporting everything from daily use to milestone celebrations.
The culinary program will highlight local vendors and regional suppliers through a chef-driven, seasonally inspired menu that blends a thoughtfully crafted dining experience with approachability - reinforcing the club's role as a homegrown destination that feels authentic to both the University and the Lawrence communities. Kansas Athletics donors will maintain the same access to the transformed space on gamedays.
"The Naismith Club is intended to foster deeper fan engagement, strengthen alumni connection, and keep Allen Fieldhouse active and relevant year-round," said Ashley Kraus, Senior Vice President of Social Clubs for Oak View Group. "It's about honoring Kansas sports history while creating something meaningful for the University community today. The club reflects our shared commitment to premium hospitality, thoughtful design, and experiences that feel authentic to the Jayhawk tradition."
Named for James Naismith, the inventor of basketball and the University of Kansas' first men's basketball coach, The Naismith Club draws from his legacy through a contemporary American design. The space will feature warm neutral finishes accented with KU crimson and blue color palletes, champagne metal details, and subtle basketball-inspired elements that reflect both history and modern hospitality. The space is conveniently located above the Booth Family Hall of Athletics and adjacent to the DeBruce Center that houses the original rules of basketball, offering a full basketball immersive experience for members.
The launch of The Naismith Club further expands OVG's portfolio of University Social Clubs nationwide, an initiative to create modern, members-only spaces that deepen engagement on campus and extend the university experience beyond game days. Existing OVG Social Clubs include Arizona Sands Club (University of Arizona), Baylor Club (Baylor University), Ken Garff University Club (University of Utah), The Carolina Club (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), The Texas Tech Club (Texas Tech University), University Club of Virginia Tech (Virginia Tech), and University Club Alabama (University of Alabama).
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About Kansas Athletics
Kansas Athletics is a not-for-profit corporation which was organized in 1925 to foster development of intercollegiate athletics in conjunction with the educational activities of the University of Kansas. Kansas Athletics operates the varsity intercollegiate athletic programs (18 men's and women's intercollegiate teams) of the University of Kansas in facilities owned by the State of Kansas. A major comprehensive research and teaching university with an enrollment of approximately 27,000, the University provides outstanding excellence in education and research. Kansas Athletics is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
About Oak View Group
Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in premium live entertainment infrastructure and services, with a platform spanning venue development and end-to-end capabilities across venue management, hospitality, and sponsorship sales. Founded in 2015, the Company serves a collection of seven world-class owned venues and a client roster of the most iconic arenas, stadiums, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions, spanning four continents. Visit OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
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