Mizzou pursuing 'seven-figure commitments' to help fund stadium reno

Univ. of Missouri AD Laird Veatch said that the school has “secured 10 seven-figure commitments” toward a $250M football stadium renovation, which is “expected to be half-funded by donations,” according to Eli Hoff of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. Hoff reported an “anonymous” $50M contribution “kick-started the pool of money” that will go toward the project, but sourcing “dozens of millions more” in funding has been an “immediate priority” for Veatch. He said that he has “met with 70 donors already,” also telling the Univ. of Missouri System Board of Curators that the athletics department has sold “nearly all of the mezzanine-level suites” that will be “part of a new-look Memorial Stadium north concourse” as well as “half of the future field-level suites.” Hoff noted curators “voted to name three Memorial Stadium gates” after donors who have pledged $1M toward the facility’s north concourse renovation. The three donors and families who will be “recognized on the gates” had “previously made significant donations before backing the latest project.” Veatch also announced that MU has “chosen Kansas City-based construction firm Whiting-Turner as its construction manager at risk for the Memorial Stadium north concourse renovations.” According to meeting documents, the firm is “assisting with cost estimations, scheduling and procurement strategies” (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 6/27).