Booth says addition to Allen Fieldhouse seems likely to be home for original basketball rules

By Andy Hyland Jul 8, 2011

AP Photo/Richard Drew

Auctioneer David Redden, right, closes the bidding for the Naismith Rules, the original rules for basketball, framed at center, Friday at Sotheby’s in New York. Standing by the rules is former Harlem Globetrotters basketball player Curly Neal. The rules were purchased by David and Suzanne Booth, who hope to bring the document to Kansas University.

Kansas Athletics Inc. is working with an architectural firm on a concept to house James Naismith’s original rules of basketball, said David Booth, the KU alumnus who purchased the rules at an auction intending for them to be displayed at KU.

“I talked to them this week. They’re working on it,” Booth said. “I think it’s largely their call. I don’t try to get too involved with it.”

Booth said the future home of the rules could take the form of an addition to Allen Fieldhouse near the existing Booth Family Hall of Athletics.

Jim Marchiony, a Kansas Athletics spokesman, said on Friday a committee continued to work on the best way to display the rules. He didn’t offer a timeline for completion or other details about the process.

Booth said keeping costs as low as possible was a factor in the considerations.

David Booth

He said though he has his own opinions on what ought to be done, he was sure that Kansas Athletics would come up with a good way to display the rules for the public at a reasonable cost.

“I look forward to having something built, and having people see them anytime they want,” Booth said.