Jayhawks fans pack freshly renovated Memorial Stadium for home opener. See photos
By Dominick Williams
Thousands of University of Kansas football fans who attended Saturday’s season-opening game against the Fresno State Bulldogs will forever have bragging rights about being the first.
If you were one of the fans who sat in the newly renovated west or north stands at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, you will always be able to claim you were the first person to watch a game there from whatever seat you were in.
If you were a player on the field, you can claim you were one of the first to play on the new turf.
Nearly everything at the stadium except the east and south parts are new after the completion of the $450 million Phase I renovations. The east stands and the south part of the stadium will be replaced in Phase II of the renovations.
The Jayhawks made the inaugural game at their shiny new home a memorable occasion by trouncing the Fresno State Bulldogs 31-7
Here are photos from the first game at the mostly all-new stadium.
A sold-out crowd watches the halftime show inside the newly remodeled David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium during the Jayhawks game vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Cheerleaders and the school band line up on the field in David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium prior to the Jayhawks game vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Lawrence. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Fans in the student section inside David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium prior to the Jayhawks game vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Lawrence. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Fans in the student section inside David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium prior to the Jayhawks game vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Lawrence. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Crowds walk the newly built view terrace during the halftime show inside the newly remodeled David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium during the Jayhawks game vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Lawrence. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
A group of kids look at high school football championship team helmets in a section located inside the newly remodeled David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium during the Jayhawks game vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Lawrence. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Fans gather inside the newly remodeled David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium prior to the Jayhawks game vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Lawrence. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Fans move about the newly remodeled concourse inside David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium prior to the Jayhawks game vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Lawrence. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Fans head to entry gates outside the newly remodeled David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium prior to the Jayhawks game vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Lawrence. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Fans ride an escalator inside David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium prior to the Jayhawks game vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Lawrence. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas Jayhawks running back Daniel Hishaw Jr. (9) runs the ball for a short gain in the second half of the Jayhawks game vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, in Lawrence. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas Jayhawks linebacker Trey Lathan (4) celebrates after making tackle late in the second half of the Jayhawks game vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, in Lawrence. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Former Kansas Jayhawks Aqib Talib stands on the sideline before the start of the Jayhawks game vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, in Lawrence. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas Jayhawks wide receiver Keaton Kubecka (3) hauls in a touchdown in the second half of the Jayhawks game vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, in Lawrence. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas Jayhawks wide receiver Keaton Kubecka (3) screams after scoring a touchdown in the second half of the Jayhawks game vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, in Lawrence. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) makes a move in the open field in the first half vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
University of Kansas donor David Booth walks the sideline before the start of the Jayhawks game vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, in Lawrence. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) throws a jump pass in the first half of the Jayhawks game vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, in Lawrence. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas Jayhawks wide receiver Cam Pickett (7) gets tackled by Fresno State Bulldogs defensive back Al'zillion Hamilton (3) in the first half of the Jayhawks game vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, in Lawrence. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) makes a move in the open field in the first half of the Jayhawks game vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, in Lawrence. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas Jayhawks linebacker Bangally Kamara (1) gets a head tap from a teammate after making a tackle in the first half of the Jayhawks game vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, in Lawrence. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas Jayhawks head coach Lance Liepold runs along the sideline in the first half of the Jayhawks game vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, in Lawrence. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Fans hold up a sign in support of Jayhawks head coach Lance Leipold inside David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium prior to the Jayhawks game vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
The crowd cheers underneath an awning inside the newly remodeled David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium during the Jayhawks game vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Lawrence. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
The Kansas Jayhawks offense lines up for a play in front of a newly designed players area and the massive scoreboard inside David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium prior to the Jayhawks game vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
The Memorial Carillon and Campanile sits in the background from inside the newly remodeled David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium during the Jayhawks game vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Lawrence. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
The Kansas Jayhawks offense lines up for a play in front of a newly designed players area inside David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium prior to the Jayhawks game vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Kansas City. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas Jayhawks football players walk the field and check out the new David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Lawrence. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas Jayhawks football players walk the field and check out the new David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Lawrence. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels warms up on the field at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium prior to the Jayhawks game vs. the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Lawrence. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
This story was originally published August 23, 2025 at 10:07 PM.
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