Emerging from a meeting with Kansas University officials, Free State High athletic director Steve Grant proclaimed Monday “a beautiful day.”
After months of uncertainty regarding Free State’s future use of KU facilities, the two sides met Monday in a meeting that Grant said was “very cordial.”
KU and the school district reached an agreement that assures Free State will play its four home football games next season at Memorial Stadium for roughly $3,700 per game. It’s the same rent Free State was charged this season.
In addition, uncertainty regarding the Class 6A state baseball tournament — slated to be at Hoglund Ballpark next month and again next year — were put to rest. KU officials also assured Free State it would cooperate in letting the annual River City Baseball Festival call Hoglund Ballpark home for a fair share of its future games.
“We’re set for football, we’re set for baseball, and I think down the road, we’ll be able to continue the River City Festival,” Grant said. “They were really interested in working with the community.”
Free State is set to have home football games Sept. 9 against Olathe East, Sept. 17 against SM Northwest, Oct. 7 against Olathe Northwest and Oct. 15 against Topeka. The O-East and O-Northwest games will be on Thursdays to not interfere with preparations for KU home games the same weekend.
This year’s 6A state baseball tournament will be held May 28-30, a week after KU’s last home baseball game.
“It was a very good meeting,” said Rick Gammill, director of special operations for the school district. “We believe we have a very good relationship with the KU athletic department.”
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Makeup dates galore: Lawrence High and Free State announced makeup dates for last week’s washed-out games.
