David Booth gifts University of Kansas $300m… what you should know
David Booth pledges $300 million to University of Kansas, funding stadium upgrades and Gateway District development.
In what stands as one of the largest donations in the history of college athletics, the University of Kansas announced that alumnus David Booth has pledged $300 million to bolster athletics and campus development initiatives. Of this total, $75 million is earmarked for the next phase of the Gateway District and upgrades to David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, while the remaining funds are intended to provide sustained support for Kansas athletics programs.
Booth, a Lawrence native and founder of Dimensional Fund Advisors, has a longstanding history of generosity toward his alma mater. In 2017, he contributed $50 million toward football stadium renovations, a project that led to the stadium being named in his honor.
For every Jayhawk today and tomorrow – Thank you, David Booth.
🔗→https://t.co/eF80fPxmfc pic.twitter.com/oQGvOatSk6
— Kansas Jayhawks (@KUAthletics) August 13, 2025
“David’s extraordinary generosity is transformative, both today and for the future,” said Kansas athletics director Travis Goff in a statement. “We are deeply grateful for his leadership and the lasting impact he has on generations of student-athletes and fans. There is no more generous or influential Jayhawk, and we are proud to call him a friend and mentor.”
The Gateway District project, which aims to revitalize the area surrounding the football stadium, includes new student housing, a hotel, expanded retail and dining options, an outdoor plaza, and additional parking. The second phase focuses on completing the south and east sides of the stadium and developing the mixed-use district around it, with an estimated cost of $346 million, according to a Lawrence city commissioner meeting agenda. City officials have approved an $86 million tax incentive package to support the development, with public funding capped at $94.6 million. Including the first phase, which renovated much of the stadium and added a conference center, the total cost of the Gateway Project is projected at $794 million.
