Why is the Kansas-UNLV Game at Children's Mercy Park? Jayhawks Forced to Play Away Due to Stadium Renovations

Kansas football is heading to a neutral site once again, this time to face UNLV in a Big 12-Mountain West matchup. However, unlike past games, this one won't involve a trophy on the line—it will count as a home game for the Jayhawks.

Due to ongoing renovations at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Kansas (1-1) will host the Rebels (2-0) at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas, this Friday for their second game of the season.

This marks their first neutral site game since last year's Guaranteed Rate Bowl in Phoenix, where the Jayhawks defeated UNLV 49-36. After an upset loss to Illinois in Week 2, which knocked them out of the US LBM Coaches Poll and AP Top 25, Kansas is looking to bounce back and get back on track.

While neutral-site games are becoming more common during the non-conference portion of the college football season, that’s not the reason the Jayhawks and Rebels are facing off at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City on Friday.

The game was relocated due to the ongoing construction and renovation of the Gateway District and David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence. Kansas announced the temporary move back in January, following the 2023 season.