Kansas City, Kansas — The KU football team, now less than four weeks away from kickoff to start the 2024 season, hosted its first practice at Children's Mercy Park on Friday night.
With the Jayhawks' own home field in Lawrence being rebuilt and not ready for play until August of 2025, KU will play its six home games on the 2024 slate in the Kansas City area during the upcoming season — the first two at Children's Mercy Park, home of MLS franchise Sporting KC, and the final four at Arrowhead Stadium, where the back-t0-back Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs play.
Obviously, Arrowhead is no stranger to hosting football games, so the transition there will be easy. But with Children's Mercy Park being primarily a soccer stadium — although it has hosted a handful of NCAA Division II championship games in the past — there is an adjustment period that's required both for the KU players and coaches and the venue itself.
That's what made Friday a fairly important exercise in the grand scheme of getting ready for the upcoming season.
Friday's practice was the fourth of preseason camp for the Jayhawks, who officially opened up preparations for the 2024 season on Tuesday.
KU will open the 2024 season at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29 against Lindenwood.
Here's a look at some of the scenes and action from Friday night.
— For tickets to all KU athletic events, visit kuathletics.com
