The College of Kansas has introduced a transformational, record-setting present 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 Part 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 present builds on a long time of Sales space’s philanthropy to KU and cements the Gateway undertaking as a civic, athletic, and financial catalyst for Lawrence.
David G. Sales space internet value: KU alumnus behind historic $300 million present 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 belongings, underscoring Sales space’s stature in world finance.His KU ties are deep: past this new present, Sales space has supported the college throughout athletics and lecturers for many years together with the donation of James Naismith’s unique guidelines of basketball and a foundational football-stadium present that led to the power bearing his identify. David G. Sales space, with an estimated internet 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 youngsters, the couple famously bought James Naismith’s unique 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 present boosts Kansas athletics and Gateway District Part II
Sales space’s dedication does two issues:$75 million is designated to jump-start Gateway District Part II and proceed stadium work.The rest is structured to generate an ongoing revenue stream that can fund Kansas Athletics “throughout generations,” offering flexibility in an period of income sharing and fast change within the faculty panorama as reported by College of KansasKansas AD Travis Goff known as the present “transformative” for accelerating development and creating new, sustainable income.
Gateway District Part II provides 162-room resort, pupil housing, and occasion plaza
As per the native information experiences of Kansas, Part 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:
These parts had been green-lit alongside a bundle of native incentives that capped public bonds and set accountability provisions.
Ku Gateway District Part I and II: $450M stadium upgrades and east-side growth
Part I (southwest, west, and north sides; main soccer complicated upgrades) represents about $450 million in funding and can be full for the Aug. 23 house opener vs Fresno State.Part II focuses on the east aspect of the stadium and the encompassing district elements outlined above. Whereas KU has not launched a remaining development timetable, Sales space’s present permits work to maneuver ahead after the 2025 season. On August 12, 2025, the Lawrence Metropolis Fee permitted a bundle of economic instruments—TIF and STAR bond districts amongst them—value about $94.6 million to assist Part II (roughly 27% of that part’s prices). The event settlement consists of:
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 progress, and neighborhood relations
Commissioners and stakeholders cited the district’s potential to drive tourism, assist 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 strategy provides Kansas the capability to spend money on applications 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 a long time:2004–2011: Help for the Sales space Household Corridor of Athletics and donation of Naismith’s unique guidelines, now displayed on the DeBruce Heart.2017–2018: A $50 million foundational stadium present and, subsequently, the naming of David Sales space Kansas Memorial Stadium.2025: The brand new ~$300 million dedication to propel Gateway Part II and safe long-term athletics funding.Additionally Learn | This African nation has no cell web entry; right here’s the stunning fact behind its digital blackout
