The College of Kansas has introduced a transformational, record-setting reward of roughly $300 million from alumnus and investing pioneer David G. Sales space. Timed simply forward of the Jayhawks’ Aug. 23 soccer opener, the donation is among the many largest single contributions in faculty athletics and the biggest in KU historical past. Sales space’s dedication instantly advances Section II of the KU Gateway District—the mixed-use neighbourhood encircling David Sales space Kansas Memorial Stadium—and establishes a sturdy income stream to maintain Kansas Athletics aggressive long-term. The reward builds on many years of Sales space’s philanthropy to KU and cements the Gateway challenge as a civic, athletic, and financial catalyst for Lawrence.
David G. Sales space web value: KU alumnus behind historic $300 million reward to College of Kansas
Sales space, a Lawrence Excessive and KU graduate, co-founded Dimensional Fund Advisors in 1981 and is broadly credited with bringing financial-science strategies to on a regular basis investing. As of June 30, 2025, Dimensional managed $853 billion in property, underscoring Sales space’s stature in world finance.His KU ties are deep: past this new reward, Sales space has supported the college throughout athletics and teachers for many years together with the donation of James Naismith’s authentic guidelines of basketball and a foundational football-stadium reward that led to the ability bearing his identify. David G. Sales space, with an estimated web value of $5 billion as reported by Movie star Web Price, has been a serious benefactor of the College of Kansas. In 2004, he donated $9 million to the Sales space Household Corridor of Athletics. Married to Suzanne Take care of two kids, the couple famously bought James Naismith’s authentic 13 basketball guidelines for $4.3 million and donated them to KU, honoring Naismith’s legacy because the college’s basketball founder and nine-season head coach.
Sales space’s $75 million reward boosts Kansas athletics and Gateway District Section II
Sales space’s dedication does two issues:$75 million is designated to jump-start Gateway District Section II and proceed stadium work.The rest is structured to generate an ongoing revenue stream that may fund Kansas Athletics “throughout generations,” offering flexibility in an period of income sharing and speedy change within the faculty panorama as reported by College of KansasKansas AD Travis Goff referred to as the reward “transformative” for accelerating development and creating new, sustainable income.
Gateway District Section II provides 162-room resort, pupil housing, and occasion plaza
As per the native information stories of Kansas, Section II extends the mixed-use district on the stadium’s east aspect and is designed to activate the campus edge year-round—not solely on sport days. Present city-approved plans embody:
- A 162-room resort linked to the convention middle
- 443 beds of pupil housing
- ~43,000 sq. ft. of retail/restaurant/workplace
- ~1,000 parking areas
- An outside occasion plaza
These parts had been green-lit alongside a package deal of native incentives that capped public bonds and set accountability provisions.
Ku Gateway District Section I and II: $450M stadium upgrades and east-side enlargement
Section I (southwest, west, and north sides; main soccer complicated upgrades) represents about $450 million in funding and shall be full for the Aug. 23 residence opener vs Fresno State.Section II focuses on the east aspect of the stadium and the encompassing district parts outlined above. Whereas KU has not launched a ultimate development timetable, Sales space’s reward permits work to maneuver ahead after the 2025 season. On August 12, 2025, the Lawrence Metropolis Fee authorized a package deal of monetary instruments—TIF and STAR bond districts amongst them—value about $94.6 million to help Section II (roughly 27% of that part’s prices). The event settlement consists of:
- A cap on public bonding and evidence-of-completion necessities
- A KU dedication to create an off-campus housing workplace (inside 18 months)
Metropolis entry to as much as $14.5 million in new district tax revenues for native hall and stormwater enhancements
KU Gateway District to spice up tourism, downtown development, and neighborhood relations
Commissioners and stakeholders cited the district’s potential to drive tourism, help downtown, and improve Lawrence’s town-gown relationship.Past bricks and mortar, Sales space’s design—front-loading development whereas endowing a recurring income stream—positions KU to stay strategic and modern amid new monetary realities (e.g., income sharing, NIL, convention realignment). The method provides Kansas the capability to put money into packages sustainably, somewhat than relying solely on annual fundraising cycles.
Sales space’s Lengthy KU legacy: From Naismith’s guidelines to a reimagined stadium
Sales space’s philanthropy spans many years:2004–2011: Assist for the Sales space Household Corridor of Athletics and donation of Naismith’s authentic guidelines, now displayed on the DeBruce Middle.2017–2018: A $50 million foundational stadium reward and, subsequently, the naming of David Sales space Kansas Memorial Stadium.2025: The brand new ~$300 million dedication to propel Gateway Section II and safe long-term athletics funding.Additionally Learn | This African country has no mobile internet access; here’s the surprising truth behind its digital blackout
