The Wichita State University Board of Trustees has approved $11.8 million in funding to help finance Phases 1A and 1B of the capital improvement plan to replace Cessna Stadium.
When completed, the new university stadium will be able to accommodate more than 12,000 spectators and will include a 9-lane track and space for a football field.
A phasing was developed around maintaining spectator seating and other infrastructure needed for the annual Kansas State High School Track and Field Championship and Wichita State track and field teams.
- Demolition of Cessna Stadium’s east stands was completed in August 2023. The west side of the stadium, with a capacity of approximately 12,000, will remain standing to allow for continued operations of the Kansas State High School Track and Field Championship. Tessere was selected by the university to lead the design of the stadium. He is supported by Populus, which is nationally recognized for its work on athletic facilities. Crossland Construction was selected in April 2024 as the construction manager at risk for Phases 1A and 1B of the project.
- Phase 1A programming began in August 2023 and will include improvements to the east side of the existing track (underground utility work, a 5,500-person seating area, new stand-alone field lighting, a ticket pavilion, a restroom/concession building and a plaza). Phase 1A physical work is expected to begin in late summer 2024 and be completed prior to the state track meet in May 2025.
- Phase 1B will expand the existing turf field to accommodate a regulation-size football field and reconfigure the 8-lane track into a 9-lane track around the expanded field. This phase also includes grass bleachers on the north and south sides of the track to accommodate team camps for national track and field or spectators for other events. Phase 1B is expected to begin in June 2025 and be completed in February 2026.
- Phase 2A, which involves demolishing Cessna Stadium’s west structure, could begin as early as June 2026. A new 6,500-person stadium west structure would be built as part of Phase 2B. The new west stadium would include a single level of press boxes and suites, offices/locker rooms/team rooms for a future soccer team, as well as restrooms, concessions and storage rooms.
- Phase 2B also includes a pedestrian plaza between Charles Koch Arena and the new stadium to accommodate food trucks, merchandise tents and public spaces adjacent to the stadium.
The total project cost for Phases 2A/2B is expected to be approximately $39.5 million. Funding for Phases 2A/2B will come from a combination of university funds, private donations and other local funding sources.
The information on this page is accurate as of May 2, 2024. Comment on this topic.
