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Mizzou Athletics momentum continues with a $250 million planned investment in Memorial Stadium, signaling a new era of competitiveness.
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The University of Missouri Board of Curators continued the momentum for Mizzou Athletics on Thursday, unanimously approving the hiring of Kansas City architecture firm DLR Group to design this historic project that will move forward with plans to transform and modernize Memorial Stadium, the iconic home facility for Mizzou Football since 1926. Designed to preserve the stadium’s tradition-rich elements while embracing a vibrant future for Mizzou, the $250 million Memorial Stadium Improvements Project will enhance the fan experience by further enclosing the north end of the stadium and adding a variety of new premium seating options along the north edge of the stadium along with other upgrades throughout the facility.
The Board of Curators approved the resolution at Thursday’s board meeting in Rolla on the campus of Missouri University of Science and Technology. The current schedule developed by DLR Group expects the project to be complete by the start of the 2026 college football season, coinciding with the 100-year anniversary of Mizzou’s first game at Memorial Stadium.
“We are competing in a dynamic, highly ambitious environment in intercollegiate athletics and across the totality of higher education,” Board Chair Robin Wenneker said. “We are momentum investing in Memorial Stadium to elevate Mizzou’s national brand and deliver a world-class facility that creates year-round connections for Tiger Nation within the campus, the community and the state of Missouri. We want to be pace setters and establish the new standard for success.”
Memorial Stadium planned renovations envision up to 160,500 square feet of new construction, including 98,000 square feet that will be enclosed as part of new premium seating areas. The project will explore the development of 14 field-level open-air suites and two new club sections, including a field-level 300-person Rock M Club built directly under the historic Rock M Hill behind the current north end zone. The renovations could add up to 51 new suites total, including 28 cabanas featuring large social spaces in covered settings. New premium spaces will also include loge seating options and mezzanine club luxury outdoor seats. DLR Group’s design will preserve the historic Rock M Hill while providing general admission seating for up to 2,600 fans.
"Of utmost importance, the improvements will enable our student body, alumni and fans to enjoy an unparalleled exciting game-day experience while viewing the best football in the country,” Curator Bob Blitz said.
As part of the project, Mizzou will upgrade restrooms and concessions throughout the stadium and convert the current field-level Bunker Club in the south end zone to a team recruiting center. Other planned features include expanded event space designed for Mizzou Athletics and other Mizzou programs to host events; an upgraded stadium sound system; multi-colored LED field lighting; stadium-wide Wi-Fi improvements; and upgraded ribbon boards throughout the stadium.
The renovations could push the stadium’s capacity from its current level of 62,621 to closer to 65,000 depending on finalized programming plans. In 2023, Mizzou led the Southeastern Conference in attendance growth for the second consecutive season and sold out the final five home games — the program’s first stretch of five consecutive sellouts since 1980.
“Memorial Stadium is a special place for Mizzou fans throughout the state of Missouri and beyond,” University of Missouri President Mun Choi said. “I want to thank Chair Wenneker and the Board of Curators for their leadership on these significant investments for Mizzou Athletics. We are excited to continue work on designing this project and developing the necessary fundraising and finance plans. The expansion to Memorial Stadium, combined with new leadership we expect to announce soon, are major steps in achieving our championship goals.”
Under Eliah Drinkwitz, the 2023 Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year, Mizzou Football finished 11-2 in 2023, culminating with a 14-3 victory over Ohio State in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. This past year, Coach Drinkwitz signed his third Top 25 recruiting class in four seasons and continues to secure highly sought prospects from the transfer portal. The Tigers ended 2023 ranked No. 8 in the national polls, the program’s highest postseason ranking in a decade.
“We are creating the perfect environment for Mizzou supporters to fully contribute to our program’s success,” Drinkwitz said. “We are extremely grateful to the Board of Curators and President Choi for their continued investments in athletics. You certainly can’t do it alone and our players, coaches and staff are proud to represent our state’s flagship institution and passionate fan base.”
To learn more about the Memorial Stadium Improvements Project and see renderings of the design visit MUTigers.com/WhyStopNow. Those interested in learning how to support Mizzou Athletics can contact the Tiger Scholarship Fund Office at 573-882-0704 and visit www.tsfmizzou.com. For the latest information on Mizzou Athletics, please visit MUTigers.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Tigers on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Reviewed 2024-04-18