LAWRENCE — A two-phase renovation of Allen Fieldhouse is nearing its conclusion, according to KU director of athletics Travis Goff.

Goff said in July the target is for the arena Kansas’ men’s and women’s basketball programs use is for it to be operational in early October. At that time, they’ll be able to hold an unveiling and start to allow those teams to acclimate to their new-look home. And then, on Oct. 18, Late Night in the Phog will be the first opportunity for 15,300 fans to fill the building ahead of a pair of highly anticipated seasons.

RELATED: Kansas football's Cobee Bryant lands on preseason watch list for Bronko Nagurski Trophy

RELATED: For KU AD Travis Goff, attendance aspirations for Arrowhead Stadium games are significant

Here are a few more things to know about the Allen Fieldhouse renovations:

Has the project raised all the funds it needs?

Goff revealed that they have a verbal commitment that will complete the full funding of Allen Fieldhouse and the concurrent renovations underway for the Wagnon Student-Athlete Center. So, through philanthropy, all $55 million necessary to modernize the structures will have been accounted for. Goff said he’s pleased with that and grateful for all those who supported the project.

How did KU handle how changes could affect capacity?

As part of all of the updates coming to Allen Fieldhouse, KU announced the capacity would drop from 16,300 to 15,300.

Goff said the idea of balancing what they wanted to do with how those changes would affect capacity started with an effort to uncover what would maximize fan experience. Capacity was on their mind as they discussed which options were best, as well as how to aid as many fans as possible, how to deal with financial considerations and how to remain committed to the history Allen Fieldhouse has.

“Ultimately, where we land is about 1,000 less seats, mostly implicated by the — kind of the crow’s nest in the corners,” Goff said. “Now, that’s not just for experience, even though we’re going to have two adjacent video boards up there that I think the fans will love. It’s also to really hide the mechanical that needed come out — in particular of the third upper level concourse.”

Goff added that’s because they want all patrons to have a great experience as they access things like restrooms and concessions. And Goff pointed out that mirroring chair-backs on the East and West sides also reduced capacity, as did addressing accessibility by doing things like enhancing ADA opportunities.

Will the 1,000 fewer seats affect students?

Goff said because of how they arrange the seating inside Allen Fieldhouse, they can modify where some of the spillover of students in attendance goes. That will allow the same amount of students to continue to cheer on the Jayhawks.

“We don’t anticipate diminishing student opportunities there,” Goff said.

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas AD Travis Goff on when Allen Fieldhouse renovation will finish