Snazzy Allen Fieldhouse expansive upgrades

Image: University of Kansas

The Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas (US) officially opened for the 2024-2025 seasons after two phases of renovations recently.

‘KU’ stated that the building opened following the second phase of expansive upgrades.

The 16,300-capacity Allen Fieldhouse is an indoor arena on the University of Kansas campus in Lawrence, Kansas (US). It is the home of the Kansas Jayhawks men’s and women’s basketball teams (the athletic teams that represent the University of Kansas). The arena is named after Phog Allen, a former player and Head Coach for the Jayhawks whose tenure lasted 39 years.

The University of Kansas is a public research university with its main campus in Lawrence, Kansas, United States. The two branch campuses are in the Kansas City Metropolitan area on the Kansas side: The university’s medical school and hospital in Kansas City, Kansas, the Edwards Campus in Overland Park (City in Kansas).

‘KU’ further stated that the first phase of updates was completed prior to the 2023-2024 seasons. Immediately after the season, the second phase began.

Image: University of Kansas

 

Detailed Breakdown of Enhancements

 

Wagnon Student-Athlete Center:

• The overhauled main entrance with expansive modernization that includes new graphics and branding packages, carpeting, lighting, and an open floor plan;
• Renovated Kansas Athletics Development office, adding additional office space and front entrance off the Wagnon lobby;
• Fresh landscaping in front of the building;
• New second-floor conference room that serves the student-athletes and the administration; and
• Renovated men’s Basketball coaches offices with an additional conference area and offices.

 

Allen Fieldhouse Seating Bowl:

• New state-of-the-art center-hung videoboard;
• The center-hung videoboard is broken down into various sections;
  • The main videoboard that spans 9.84’ high and 18.04’ wide with four displays facing each direction of the Fieldhouse;
  • The corners on the main videoboard that consist of four displays with an area of 9.84’ high and 3.28’ wide;
  • The top of the board that consists of one custom ring with an active area of 3.28’ high and 88.58’ wide;
  • Underbelly videoboards on the center-hung videoboard that make it easier to see from the lower sections on the East and West side of the arena;
• Two LED video displays in the Southwest and Northeast corners of the Fieldhouse that will display additional statistical information throughout the game;
• The corner boards are 13.94’ high and 24.60’ wide with a pixel pitch of 5.9 mm;
• The corner boards will display closed captioning for fans at the Allen Fieldhouse for the first time;
• Free public WiFi throughout the building that any fan can connect to upon arrival to the arena;
• New hydronic water piping/system added and ductwork throughout the third level concourse to improve the air circulation in the seating bowl;
• New mechanical equipment added in each of the four corners of the Fieldhouse dramatically improving the concourse width allowing for improved fan circulation and food and beverage (F&B) services;
• Doubled the amount of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) seating, moving from all accessible seating on the floor to a distributed plan throughout the arena with extensively more space;
• The student seating brought closer to the floor by adding two rows of seating at the front of both student sections behind the baskets keeping the student attendance number the same as the past years for the ongoing season;
• One thousand one hundred (1,100) chairback seats added on the West side of the Fieldhouse;
• Brand new playing court with a lighter finish and circus font graphics; and
• Brand-new state-of-the-art sound system that enhances the overall clarity and sound quality.

Image: University of Kansas

 

Allen Fieldhouse Concourses:

• Complete new graphics and branding package highlighting the tradition and history of the Allen Fieldhouse and Kansas basketball;
• New displays for photo opportunities including an original piece of the 1979-1992 Allen Fieldhouse floor that will be on display in the second-level concourse in the Southwest corner;
• Renovated and updated concourses on the second and third levels that provide a more accessible and modernized layout with more than 75 percent of fans sitting in the second and third level bowl areas;
• Additional and new concession areas that include grab-and-go spaces, digital menu boards and more offerings throughout the arena. The Fieldhouse will now have 96 total points of sale, four grab-and-go stations, one marketplace, 24 portable stands, and four permanent stands. The 96 points of sale are up from 64 in the previous layout. There are now more than 40 total points of sale on the second and third levels;
• Updates to every restroom throughout the arena;
• Enclosed pedestrian bridges on the North end of the Allen Fieldhouse that will create safer and more comfortable entry for the fans;
• New elevator on the North end of the arena to improve accessibility;
• Overhauled hospitality spaces including the Crimson Club that will connect directly to the second-level concourse of the Fieldhouse;
• The first onsite cooking kitchen in Allen Fieldhouse added which is located in the Naismith Room and will be managed by new hospitality partner, the Oak View Group (OVG); and
• Additional Rally House store on the second level of the arena.

 
The Oak View Group (OVG), LLC is an American professional sports and commercial real estate company based in Denver. It manages several sports venues, including the 18,300-capacity Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington, which was constructed under the company’s supervision.

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