Hoglund Ballpark is getting a facelift.
And it’s one that’s more than 20 years in the making.
See, it was around that time when Casey Cook, KU’s Associate AD for Events, was hired by Kansas Athletics. And although Cook did not know at that point when, if ever, his brainstorming sessions might be put into action, that was the first time he started thinking about what KU could do, should do and would do if regional baseball ever made its way to Lawrence.
Now, that it’s here — KU will host Arkansas, Missouri State and Northeastern in NCAA Tournament regional action this weekend — Cook and several other Kansas Athletics staff members have taken it as a personal challenge to get Hoglund Ballpark ready to shine with the eyes of the college baseball world on it for the first time.
“I'm amazed, first and foremost, just the way our staff has stepped up into this opportunity,” KU AD Travis Goff said Monday. “Some of them, you know, I’ll use Casey Cook as an example, he said, "Hey, I've been waiting (20+) years, literally his entire tenure, and thinking about and envisioning with a whole host of other people, how would we do this? How would we maximize Hoglund to be really the best regional in the country?’”
That is the goal, and while time, money and limited resources are working against them, this group, along with many others throughout the KU athletic department, has rolled up its sleeves and found a way to bring significant, effective and noticeable changes to the old ballpark for this weekend’s fun.
A close-up look at "The Backyard" in left field, as of last weekend. More changes will be added to spruce up the area for gameday. [R1S1 Sports photos]
While “The Backyard,” a new fan seating area beyond the left field fence, will be among the most obvious changes, the facelift is certainly not limited to that.
Some other physical additions will pop. But so, too, will the environment, with a raucous student section that KU coach Dan Fitzgerald has called the best in the history of college baseball and 1,500 additional seats squeezed into every corner they can find ahead of Friday’s action on the field.
The other additions will include additional bleachers, standing-room-only areas, additional concessions, food trucks in the parking lots, additional restrooms and even more space around the ballpark to grow the area and make the environment feel bigger than ever and buzz on a whole different wavelength.
Said KU ace Dom Voegele, who has seen more games at KU's home park than anyone on the current roster: “It’s gonna be awesome.”
After meeting with local reporters on Monday, following the NCAA Tournament selection show, Goff said they’d learn from this weekend and use all of the knowledge and intel to jam even more in wherever possible should the Jayhawks host a Super Regional the following weekend.
“This will be the best regional in college baseball this season,” Goff said. “It just will, in terms of the energy, the storylines, the way this community stepping up into it, then the unique things the staff is doing. … It's going to be like nothing I think Lawrence and, frankly, KU has ever experienced.”
Added Fitzgerald: “It’s amazing and also not surprising, the way KU does things and the way Travis does everything is always world class, so it’s surreal. Our people have done it so quickly. Casey Cook and Tad (Dunn) have done just an incredible job of making this thing happen fast. Again, not surprising. Kansas does everything first-class.”
While this is far from the same scale as 7-figure renovations from the past — a $1.8 million stadium renovation in 1999 added seating capacity, brought a new press box, expanded dugouts and fan amenities and created the plaza entrance look that we see today and $1.2 million in 2009 brought permanent turf to Hoglund — it’s worth noting that any future renovations to the venue may be the result of what KU officials learn from the changes they’re implementing this weekend.
For now, though, Goff said the focus for Kansas baseball, facilities-wise, is on the construction of a new indoor facility.
“I think we'll learn some things, obviously, this weekend that will give us a chance to sharpen and then think bigger and bolder about a more permanent future state for Hoglund,” Goff said. “As far as immediate focus, we are locked in on building an indoor facility for this baseball program. It'll be right there, adjacent to the clubhouse, to the locker room, and it will be critical as we, and Fitz, most importantly, have prioritized the day-to-day development for this team. So, that's first and foremost, that's our, that's our lead emphasis.”
Goff continued: “The reality is, (are) there things we should do and want to do with Hoglund? Absolutely. Is that number one or number two on the immediate need? I think this weekend will show Hoglund’s got it; it's got that spark, it's got that magic. We're not trying to match some palace in some other part of the country, and so we're just excited to be gifted, frankly, this opportunity from Coach Fitz and this baseball program to find ways to invest and find ways to make sure this isn't just a one-time opportunity.”
More of our coverage of the 2026 Kansas baseball team...
• Kansas draws No. 15 overall national seed for NCAA regional - Jayhawks to host Arkansas, Missouri State and Northeastern for postseason baseball
• Jayhawks win outright Big 12 title - Putting KU's first ever Big 12 crown in the proper context and perspective
• Stop us if you've heard this one... - Jayhawks validate regular season title by winning school's second ever Big 12 tourney trophy
• The man behind the mask - What catcher Augie Mungarrieta has meant to KU
• From France to Friday nights - The story of KU pitcher Mathis Nayral
• Coming out of his shell - This season has been so much fun even normally-reserved KU ace Dom Voegele has allowed his emotions to show
• All he does is win - KU shortstop Tyson LeBlanc has done nothing but win in the game of baseball since he started playing and he hasn't slowed down in Lawrence
• Ready and willing - How KU's starting infield set the tone for this team's incredible work ethic
• Red-hot Jayhawks working magic recipe for another memorable run - Juco recruiting, hard work, being incredible teammates, it's all part of the magic that KU coach Dan Fitzgerald has brought to Lawrence
— For tickets to all KU athletic events, visit kuathletics.com
