Memorial Stadium ( University of Kansas ) University of Kansas Memorial Stadium is a football stadium located in Lawrence , Kansas , on the campus of the University of Kansas . The stadium is dedicated as a memorial to the KU students who died in World War I . The primary use of the stadium is to host the University ' s football and track and field intercollegiate athletics teams . Construction and Renovation . Memorial Stadium was built in 1920 funded by students , faculty , and fans . Originally the stadium had only east and west bleachers , which were expanded southward in 1925 . The north bowl seating section was added in 1927 to give the stadium its horseshoe shape which it retains today . The west bleachers were expanded significantly upwards in 1963 , with similar additions to the east side in 1965 . A major renovation in 1978 repaired concrete and upgraded home and visiting team facilities . Permanent lights were installed in 1997 and the current infrastructure is the result of a 1998 renovation . The press box and scholarship suites saw significant improvement and expansion in 1999 , and the MegaVision video board was installed in the same year . The track that rings the stadium has been resurfaced several times , most recently in 1999 . The field has been artificial turf since 1970 . In the summer of 2009 the old AstroPlay surface was replaced with FieldTurf . A new scoreboard with two video strips was mounted at the top of the stadium ' s north bowl for the 2005 season , correcting a quirk of the stadium that north - driving teams had no way to see the clock without turning around . In 2006 , the playing field was named Kivisto Field in honor of prominent donor Tom Kivisto . On October 6 , 2006 at precisely 11 : 27am , the University of Kansas broke ground on the new $ 31 - million Anderson Family Football Complex and it opened in 2008 . The building includes offices , academic areas , a weight room , locker rooms , an audio - visual room , meeting rooms , a cardio room , a hydro - therapy room , a nutrition area and a display area . It is also joined by new practice fields to the southeast of the stadium . On September 17 , 2009 , the Kansas Board of Regents approved a $ 34 million addition of luxury seating on the east side of the stadium . The addition , known as the Gridiron Club , will increase the stadium ' s capacity by 3 , 000 seats . However , as of 2012 , construction has yet to begin . Capacity . The stadium ' s current official capacity is 50 , 071 , although the horseshoe shape allows tailgaters to view the game from the Campanile hill to the south . A then - record crowd of 51 , 574 saw the Jayhawks defeat Kansas State 25 - 18 in 1973 . At the Jayhawks ' November 5 , 2005 streak - snapping 40 - 15 victory over Nebraska , it was announced that that attendance record was broken , with a standing - room - only crowd of 51 , 750 . On November 18 , 2006 a then attendance record of 51 , 821 fans watched the Jayhawks defeat Kansas State , 39 – 20 . The home attendance average of 44 , 137 in seven games during the year set a new season record , surpassing the prior season ' s record of 43 , 675 in six contests . Over the last three seasons , stadium attendance has averaged more than 41 , 000 per game . On November 1 , 2008 the Jayhawks set a new record of 52 , 230 fans in attendance . The Jayhawks beat Kansas State 52 - 21 in the Sunflower Showdown . On September 5 , 2009 Kansas broke the record again as 52 , 530 fans watched the Jayhawks defeat Northern Colorado in the opening game of the Jayhawks ' 2009 season . Tenants . The Kansas Relays . Memorial Stadium has also hosted the Kansas Relays track and field event every year since 1923 , except in 1943 , 1944 and 1945 due to World War II and 1998 and 1999 due to construction . The Relays annually see top area high school and intercollegiate competitors , and the open events often draw Olympic runners such as Maurice Greene and Marion Jones . The Kansas Relays is the location where world - record holder Justin Gatlin tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in 2006 . Gatlin is currently serving an eight year suspension . High School football . Memorial Stadium served for many years as the home field for Lawrence High School , and later , Lawrence Free State High School . The stadium has also hosted numerous Kansas State High School Activities Association state championship games and Kansas Shrine Bowl all - star games . Top Crowds . The following are the top 10 largest crowds in stadium history :