An artist’s rendition of what Faurot Field will look like following stadium expansion. MU Athletics

University of Missouri’s Director of Athletics Mike Alden announced today the athletic department received a $30 million gift from the Kansas City Sports Trust. In addition, the Board of Curators unanimously approved a $72 million bond-financed facility project during their annual meetings in Columbia. The funds will help increase the seating capacity of Memorial Stadium to 80,000 and will build an additional indoor football facility as well as provide improvements elsewhere.

Director of Athletics Mike Alden reveals expansion and renovation plans on the University of Missouri campus.

The seating increase will happen over two different phases. The new indoor facility will be built where the two current outdoor fields are located, which is just off of Stadium Blvd. Other improvements will come to the baseball and softball fields as well as to the tennis facilities and golf course, The Club at Old Hawthorn.

This initial $102 million will be the first phase of what Alden described as a $200 million plus master plan for facility improvements.

The KC Sports Trust also gifted the athletic department $10 million in 2004.  At the time, it was the third largest gift.  This current gift is the second largest ever given to the University.

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“We are so very grateful to the Kansas City Sports Trust for their unwavering support of our mission,” said Alden.  “This historic gift is putting into motion a series of improvements that will impact Mizzou Athletics for generations to come. We are moving into the nation’s best and most competitive conference, and by committing to this master plan, we feel this is a statement that Mizzou is going to be a factor on the conference and national levels,” he said

Below you can listen to the entire press conference featuring Alden, Board of Curators Chair David Bradley, President Tim Wolf and Chancellor Brady Deaton.

AUDIO Mike Alden announces $30 million gift and future plans (16:00)

University of Missouri Master Plan – Project Summaries

Memorial Stadium

  • East Side expansion: Addition of an upper bowl with over 5,000 general admission seats and a club level with over 1,000 club seats, as well as associated amenities including restrooms, concessions, back-of-house kitchen and club lounges. Additionally, circulation space will be added on the main concourse…Anticipated completion for the 2015 season…
  • West Side press box renovation: Move the existing press functions up to level 6 and enclose. Upgrade level 5 to include new premium seating options. Update the amenities in the existing premium spaces…Anticipated completion for the 2013 season…
  • North concourse: Move the Rock M and berm closer to the North end zone to provide improved game-day experience for fans, while expanding north concourse for improved spacing… Anticipated completion for the 2013 season…
  • Miscellaneous structural repairs throughout stadium… Anticipated completion for the 2013 season…

University Field

  • Expansion of patron seating and addition of a team clubhouse and indoor batting cages…Completed in stages, with full completion anticipated by Spring, 2015…

Taylor Stadium

  • Along the third baseline provide an improved clubhouse with a team locker room, meeting rooms, coaches’ offices and coaches’ locker room. Replace the existing outdoor picnic tables along the third baseline with an outdoor premium seating area…Anticipated completion for Spring, 2014…

Mizzou Tennis Complex

  • Addition of outdoor bleacher seating with a ground level building featuring tennis team locker room, offices, concessions and public bathrooms…Anticipated completion for Spring, 2014…

Mizzou Golf Facility

  • New team clubhouse at The Club at Old Hawthorne will feature: team and coach locker facilities, players’ lounge, coaches’ offices, meeting rooms and storage… Anticipated completion for Spring, 2014…

Other Projects (Timelines under development)

  • New indoor practice facility…
  • Additional weight room…
  • Miscellaneous Olympic sport facility additions/improvements…