It might not be your cup of tea — plenty of Kansas basketball fans made that known on social media earlier this year — but you'll probably always remember it.
And, for a lot of people, the renovations done to Allen Fieldhouse during 2024 produced a sharp, updated look while still keeping ahold of the traditions and images that make the building one of the most iconic in all of sports.
Most of the renovations to the building took place in the concourses and outside of the arena. And the project even extended to the adjacent Wagnon Student-Athlete Center, where new basketball offices, an overhauled entry and new landscaping, lighting and logos invite you into the building just to the west of Allen Fieldhouse.
In the end, though, most of the attention went to the Fieldhouse itself, which received a giant new video board with a few new screens and a completely different look; 2 LED video boards in the corners to display in-game stats and graphics; a brand new court, complete with the Circus font writing of both Allen Fieldhouse and James Naismith Court on the floor; 1,100 chair-back seats added to the west bleachers; an upgraded sound system that allows musical acts on Late Night to plug right into the house system instead of bringing in their own; free public WiFi; fresh paint, new lighting and new graphics and slogans painted throughout the building; and more.
While capacity dipped by 1,000 seats, the students were brought closer to the floor and KU also upgraded its ADA seating areas.
In addition, KU announced early in the season, an extension of its partnership with FNBO that includes two green FNBO logos added to the court at Allen Fieldhouse, another controversial addition that drew the ire of some fans but also puts a whole bunch of money in the KU athletic department.
In the concourses, upgrades to the bathrooms, concessions offerings and the space in general — it's now wider and easier to walk through — were the highlights, with more new graphics and additional Rally House stores and new hospitality areas for game nights.
Again, it might not be everything everyone wanted it to be, but a lot of it had to be done and you have to tip your cap to the KU administration for finding the money to make it happen, getting it done and preserving nearly all of the most important elements that make Allen Fieldhouse what it is.
Unless you're in there nit-picking and looking for things to complain about, you'll likely feel like you're in the same building you've always loved, watching your favorite team do what it does.
Here's a closer look at some of the details of the renovations.
• Photos by Chance Parker & Kansas Athletics •
— For tickets to all KU athletic events, visit kuathletics.com
