August 25, 2008

Jayhawk Fans and Friends:

Construction at Memorial Stadium is complete and the Anderson Family Football Complex at Kivisto Field is now home to the Kansas football program. Although there have been many changes to that area of campus, fans will still be able to walk down Campanile Hill.

We are excited to open another season under Coach Mark Mangino and would like to share some helpful information that will make your gameday experience more enjoyable.

The Kansas Turnpike Authority began its Spanning the Future project in 2007, and improvements to the Kansas River bridges and plaza replacements are well underway. These improvements will affect travelers using Interstate 70 coming to and from Lawrence.

Travelers coming to Lawrence from the Kansas City area:

Plaza 202/West Lawrence exit closed to westbound traffic
Exit at Plaza 204/East Lawrence south onto Second Street
Exit at Plaza 197/Lecompton south onto K-10 Highway

Travelers returning to the Kansas City area from Lawrence:

Enter the turnpike from Plaza 202 (open to eastbound traffic)
Enter the Turnpike from Plaza 204/East Lawrence

Travelers coming to Lawrence from Topeka area:

Exit at Plaza 107, 202, or 204

Travelers returning to Topeka area from Lawrence:

Plaza 202/West Lawrence exit closed to westbound traffic
Enter the Turnpike from Plaza 197/Lecompton
Enter the Turnpike from Plaza 204/East Lawrence

For maps and more detailed information on these improvements and how your travel will be affected, please visit www.spanningthefuture.com.

Upon arrival in Lawrence, the City of Lawrence offers a new option for gameday parking that will allow Jayhawk fans to enjoy Downtown restaurants and shops before and after the game. Park for free in the New Hampshire Street Parking Garage (900 block of New Hampshire) and on the lower level and ramps of the Riverfront Garage (600 block of New Hampshire) and take advantage of complimentary shuttles to and from Memorial Stadium. Both Downtown parking garages are easily accessible from the East Lawrence Kansas Turnpike exit.

The shuttles will run continuously two hours prior to kick-off and one hour after each KU home football game. Downtown pick-up points for the shuttle are across the street and just north of the New Hampshire Street garage, and at the cutout in front of the Riverfront Garage. The LED signs on the front of the buses will display: Downtown/Football Shuttle.

In addition to the many visible changes around Memorial Stadium, there is also one important security update. In an effort to comply with all Homeland Security recommendations and provide the safest atmosphere for our coaches, players and fans, backpacks are no longer allowed in Memorial Stadium. We apologize for any inconvenience this change may cause.

Additional seating has been added to the Family Zone/General Admission seating areas. Section 11 is now part of the Family Zone.

Season and single-game tickets are still available for the Kansas football season, which begins this Saturday, August 30. The Jayhawks host Florida International in the season opener at Kivisto Field at Memorial Stadium at 6 p.m.

Reserved season tickets are $300, faculty-staff season tickets are $240, recent graduate packages are $240 (graduated between 2006-08), and a Football Pack, which includes tickets to Louisiana Tech, Sam Houston State and Colorado, is $99.

Thank you for your support of Kansas football. We look forward to sharing another exciting season with you.

Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!