The Booth Family Hall of Athletics - Plan Your Visit

NORMAL HOURS OF OPERATION
Mon.-Sat.: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

SPECIAL HOURS OF OPERATION
Monday, May 27: CLOSED for Memorial Day

Location
1651 Naismith Drive, Lawrence, KS 66045
Guest Services: 785/864-7050

Admission
FREE to the public. No food or drinks allowed.

Tour Information
All tours are self-guided unless advance reservations are made. Guided tours last approximately 30-45 minutes and are available upon request Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To make reservations please call 785/864-7966 or email boothhoa@ku.edu. These tours are provided at no charge.

Parking
Parking is available in the parking garage located North of Allen Fieldhouse. Parking fees must be paid in the parking garage office located in the northeast corner of the parking garage. Buses must drop off on the south side of Allen Fieldhouse and park at the Lied Center.

Directions
From the east: Take I-70 West to Lawrence. Exit I-70 at exit #202 (West Lawrence). Follow Iowa Street to 19th Street, turn left on 19th Street, to Naismith Drive, turn left on Naismith Drive, leading to Fieldhouse Drive, South of Allen Fieldhouse. The Hall of Athletics is located on the East side of the Fieldhouse. OR Take K-10 into Lawrence, where it becomes 23rd Street. Continue on 23rd Street to Naismith Drive. Make right onto Naismith Drive, leading to Fieldhouse Drive, South of Allen Fieldhouse. The Hall of Athletics is located on the East side of the Fieldhouse.

From the west: Take I-70 East to the West Lawrence Kansas Turnpike exit #202, which will lead to Iowa Street. Follow Iowa Street to 19th Street, turn left on 19th Street, to Naismith Drive, turn left on Naismith Drive, leading to Fieldhouse Drive, South of Allen Fieldhouse. The Hall of Athletics is located on the East side of the Fieldhouse. Allow one and a half hour driving time from KCI to Lawrence.

From Kansas City International Airport: Kansas City International Airport is 60 miles to the northeast and is served by most national airline carriers. As you exit the airport, turn left onto I-29 North. Continue on I-29 for TWO-THREE miles to I-435 South. TAKE I-435 South to the junction of I-70 West. Take I-70 West to Lawrence. Exit I-70 at exit #202 (West Lawrence). Follow Iowa Street to 19th Street, turn left on 19th Street, to Naismith Drive, turn left on Naismith Drive, leading to Fieldhouse Drive, South of Allen Fieldhouse. The Hall of Athletics is located on the East side of the Fieldhouse. Allow one and a half hour driving time from KCI to Lawrence.

The Booth Family Hall of Athletics

The Booth Family Hall of Athletics is a 19,335-square-foot museum adjacent to the east side of Allen Fieldhouse. This facility opened in January 2006 and was expanded in 2009. It is open year-round, allowing Jayhawk fans everywhere to experience the history and tradition of Kansas Athletics. The Hall honors KU's historic athletics programs, its coaches and student-athletes, past and present.

The original Hall was made possible through more than $5 million in gifts from the children and grandchildren of the late Gilbert and Betty Booth, longtime Jayhawk fans and Lawrence residents. Betty and Gilbert raised three children: Jane, David and Mark -- in Garnett, Kansas. As the two oldest children reached high school, their parents looked to their future. Wanting them to have the opportunity to attend the University of Kansas, but knowing they could not finance lodging as well as tuition, they made a tremendous sacrifice. Leaving their long-time community connections, the Booths moved their family to Lawrence.

The family lived at 1931 Naismith Drive, just down the street from Allen Fieldhouse. Soon, Betty and Gilbert Booth developed new bonds. Kansas Athletics represented more than sporting events; it became a way of life. The Booths were proud holders of two season tickets to Allen Fieldhouse, and walks through the winter night from home to Allen Fieldhouse were treasured rituals. Sometimes the parents went together, other times parent and child, but family members were always there to cheer their beloved Jayhawks.

Booth family members who pledged their support to the Hall are David and Suzanne Booth of Los Angeles, and their children, Erin and Chandler; Mark and Lauren Bacich Booth of London, and their children, Miles, Coco and Cyrus; Mark and Jane Booth Berkley of Tescott, Kan., and their children and spouses, Stuart and Tina Berkley, Elizabeth Berkley, and Melissa and Marco Ungaschik.

In 2009, the Hall of Athletics took on a new look as part of a $7.9 million renovation to Allen Fieldhouse. This expansion opened up the east side of the concourse and added several interactive exhibits, a basketball championship trophy case, a new reception desk and allowed space to rearrange the existing exhibits, allowing for better traffic flow. The flooring in the new area is terrazzo, matching the existing Hall of Athletics, and new accent lighting was provided in the exhibit area. A new door system was added to allow better control and definition of the Hall of Athletics on non-game days.

Features of the Booth Family Hall of Athletics

First Floor

Hall of Athletics - 12,615 square feet
KU Store - 1,690 square feet
Ticket Office - 1,230 square feet

Second Floor

Balcony - 1,140 square feet
Naismith Lounge - 2,260 square feet
Jayhawk Den - 400 square feet