Mizzou Athletics Celebrates Topping Off Ceremony for Memorial Stadium Centennial Project
9/19/2025 5:19:00 PM | General
Gov. Kehoe joins AD Laird Veatch in commemorating milestone moment in stadium renovation.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri and Mizzou Athletics marked a major milestone in the $250 million Memorial Stadium Centennial Project on Friday, as state and campus dignitaries, donors, staff and construction partners gathered to celebrate the "Topping Off" ceremony at the home of Mizzou Football. The event commemorated the placement of the final steel beam in the renovation of one of the state's most iconic landmarks.
Featured speakers included University of Missouri President Mun Choi, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe, Mizzou Director of Athletics Laird Veatch and University of Missouri Board of Curators Chair Todd Graves. Following their remarks, the leaders joined donors, Mizzou Athletics staff and representatives from construction manager Whiting-Turner, architectural firm DLR Group and Mizzou Planning, Design and Construction (PD&C) in ceremonially signing the final steel beam before it was raised into place.
"This is a special place. It's almost hallowed ground here. It really is for many of us," Graves said. "We as a university, we are the University of Missouri. We're not just a university in Missouri. This place is the gridiron of Missouri. It stands next to The Columns, Jesse Hall, Memorial Union and others as iconic landmarks for this university and this state. And when the team takes the field, I always get a charge out of this. If you look down there, the state flag is always in the vanguard, and one of the players is holding it up high. They give that as an honor every week, who gets to run that state flag on the field. That makes me proud. The University of Missouri is the beating heart of this state. And I can tell you, when the Tigers are winning, all of our hearts beat just a little faster for sure."
Mizzou broke ground on the Memorial Stadium Centennial Project in November 2024, kicking off the largest facility investment in Mizzou Athletics history. The renovation will enhance the fan experience, present new premium seating options and preserve Memorial Stadium's historic legacy while positioning Mizzou Football and Mizzou Athletics for long-term success. The renovated north concourse will be complete by the start of the 2026 season. Memorial Stadium, which first opened in 1926 as a tribute to Missourians who served in World War I, celebrates its centennial next year with a transformative project designed to carry its legacy into the next century.
On Saturday, the No. 23 Tigers (3-0) play host to South Carolina at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN in what will be the program's 16th consecutive sellout at Memorial Stadium.
"Selling out 16 straight games is a testament to this football team," Gov. Kehoe said. "It's ready to take the next step into national relevance and prove that this program can compete with the biggest names in college football. … This stadium is just evident of the support it has with donor community, the people who are true Black and Gold people all around the state. It never ceases to amaze me the number of faithful alumni we meet."
