Booth Family Hall of Athletics


The two-story, 26,000-square-foot facility on the east face of the fieldhouse was designed by HOK Sport+Venue+Event of Kansas City, Mo., and opened Jan. 21, 2006.

It houses a hall of fame for Kansas athletes and sports, with a special emphasis on the contributions of James Naismith, inventor of basketball, KU's first basketball coach and a longtime faculty member; and Forrest C. "Phog" Allen, KU's great coach, who played for Naismith. The hall also includes the ticket office; KU Store and donor, alumni, and recruiting meeting rooms.

A 2009 renovation to Allen Fieldhouse opened up the adjoining concourse and added interactive exhibits and a championship trophy case. Further renovations in 2015 enriched the exhibits on Forrest C. "Phog" Allen and his relationship to Naismith. The northeast concourse leads to the three-story DeBruce Center, which houses Naismith's original "Rules of Basket Ball" and which opened in 2016.

It is named for the late Gilbert and Betty Booth, staunch KU supporters who lived a few blocks south of the fieldhouse. More than $5 million of the $8 million cost was donated by their children and grandchildren: David (1968 bachelor's in economics, 1969 master's in business) and Suzanne Deal Booth of Los Angeles and their children, Erin and Chandler; Mark and Lauren Bacich Booth of London and their children, Miles, Coco, and Cyrus; and Mark and Jane Booth Berkley of Tescott, Kan., and their children and spouses, Stuart and Tina Berkley, Elizabeth and Pete Reininga, and Melissa and Marko Ungashick.

Booth Family Hall of Athletics

Allen Fieldhouse
Lawrence, KS 66044