COLUMBIA, Mo. — Proposed renovations to Memorial Stadium advanced Friday morning with the UM System Board of Curators' approval of an architectural and engineering consultant.Â
The board and its finance committee both unanimously backed the selection of the DLR Group, which is based in Kansas City and has completed projects including the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and college football stadiums at the University of Houston and the University of Louisiana.
The Mizzou athletics department and DLR Group don't yet have full clearance to proceed with the renovations. Rather, Friday's vote gives a green light to the completion of $400,000 worth of pre-design services to generate a more concrete project proposal for approval at the Curators' meeting April 18, 2024.
"The purpose of the study would be to outline, establish a scope, a schedule and a budget and would put us in a position to bring the project forward for approval at the April meeting," said Ryan Rapp, the UM System's top financial officer.
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Current plans for renovations target the stadium's north concourse, which currently houses a grassy hill and the iconic Rock M. That portion of Faurot Field already will be receiving an expanded video board and new sound system before the 2024 football season starts.
According to board documents, the "primary program elements" for north concourse renovations include:
- Premium seating
- Concessions
- New restrooms
- A new stadium gate
- Multiple open-air observation decks
- Retail space
- A recruiting room
- "Transparent and strengthened engagement between Memorial Stadium and MU campus"
- "Preservation and memorialization" of the Rock M
That list could evolve ahead of the April meeting.
"I assume those are not inclusive, as you work through this process with the team, there might be things that come on and off that list?" Curator Robin Wenneker, who represents Columbia, asked during the meeting.
Rapp and MU athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois both answered affirmatively.Â
The project is expected to be complete in time for the 2026 football season, according to meeting documents.
It took its first step forward in November, when the Board of Curators approved the creation of a committee — chaired by Reed-Francois and with Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz involved — charged with selecting the architectural and engineering consultant.Â
The committee "was impressed with the creativity demonstrated in DLR's visioning process as well (as) their ability to facilitate the design using data analytics and the input of stakeholders," a meeting document reads.
The group also interviewed Populous, the architect that designed Mizzou Arena and Memorial Stadium's South End Zone, which opened for the 2019 football season.
"We are enthused about working with DLR and getting started," Reed-Francois told the board. "We will present in April our finance plan, as well as our full report. But I would say that this opportunity is a great one to continue our momentum. It's great for recruiting. We always want our fans, every year, to be able to experience an enhanced fan day. With this new improvement, they'll be able to do that."
"Excellence is the sole criteria for any judgment," said Curator Bob Blitz, who sat on the selection committee, in a statement. "In SEC football, excellence is only spelled 'championship.' Championships mandate facilities of championship quality. Unanimously, DLR was selected by the committee for design of Memorial Stadium to attract and retain the best athletes, provide the most vibrant and exhilarating game day atmosphere and create everlasting victorious memories for the Mizzou nation."