Farmer Families Make Significant Philanthropic Contribution to Memorial Stadium Centennial Project
9/2/2025 11:00:00 AM | Football, General
Mizzou Athletics Approaches $100 Million in Fundraising for Renovation.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – As construction progresses skyward, Mizzou Athletics has announced that gifts and pledges for the Memorial Stadium Centennial Project are approaching $100 million of the $125 million goal, one year prior to anticipated project completion.
This includes a substantial gift from the Farmer Families from Jefferson City, Missouri, which will name the Rock M Club. The Rock M Club is an innovative field-level experience and one of the many VIP spaces highlighted in the expansion project.
"The extraordinary commitment by the Farmer Families further advances the impact Mizzou Athletics makes on our university, in Missouri and beyond," University of Missouri Board of Curators Chair Todd Graves said. "The amount of support they have provided over multiple generations truly shows the unwavering confidence and pride our communities hold for Mizzou. We are deeply humbled by the Farmer Families trust, leadership and philanthropy and their support of this transformational project."
The Memorial Stadium Centennial Project, which broke ground on Nov. 30, 2024, is a $250 million north end zone renovation that will be complete for the 2026 Mizzou Football season, coinciding with the 100-year anniversary of Memorial Stadium's opening. The transformational renovation includes enhancements to fan amenities, expanded premium seating and state-of-the-art facilities to ensure Memorial Stadium remains a premier venue for college football while honoring its tradition of excellence and service to Mizzou.
"The philanthropy and support of our generous donors ensure that our championship culture continues its historic rise," Curator Bob Blitz said. "The expectation for an unrivaled game-day experience will now be matched by a first-class stadium that reflects our Tiger fans' exceptional pride."
Additionally, Mizzou has commitments on 35 of the 51 highly sought-after premium suites in the north end zone one year before opening.
"The momentum of Mizzou Athletics and our entire University is undeniable," University of Missouri President Mun Choi said. "I am grateful to the Farmer Families and to all Mizzou supporters who sustain excellence in academics, research, engagement and athletics. I also want to thank Director of Athletics Laird Veatch, Vice Chancellor for Advancement Chris Smith and their teams for jointly achieving the highest fundraising year in Mizzou history."
"It is no secret that we are asking a lot of our people, from contributing to this critical project through donations or premium seating purchases, and we will continue to do so," University of Missouri Director of Athletics Laird Veatch said. "The response to those requests has been overwhelming, and we cannot thank our supporters, like the Farmer Families, enough for helping us take major steps towards realizing the opportunities ahead of us. We are making great strides but also continue to have a considerable gap to close with our SEC peers."
Mizzou Athletics began the year reimagining its Tiger Scholarship Fund as the Mizzou Athletics Fund, which more accurately reflects its mission generating revenue for many different facets of the athletics department in addition to scholarships. Now featuring pillars for priority access to tickets and parking, above-and-beyond giving that includes exclusive stewardship, and lifetime philanthropic recognition, the Mizzou Athletics Fund has simplified and more clearly aligned donor benefits with the direct impact of the contribution.
"Our contributors have a true 'Will to Win' and understand how vital their continued investment is to our ability to win at the highest levels," Veatch continued. "In turn, we are committed to re-investing our resources into what truly drives winning, which will unlock moments and memories that generations of Mizzou fans crave. Whether it's through philanthropic giving, joining the Mizzou Leadership Circle or purchasing seats, it will continue to take all of us to realize our shared dreams."
Additional highlights of Mizzou Athletics' record-breaking fundraising year of over $140 million in gifts, pledges and capital commitments include:
- Closing anonymous commitments of $50 million and $25 million to the Memorial Stadium Centennial Project
- A generous philanthropic gift from longtime benefactor Audrey J. Walton to fund significant enhancements to Mizzou's Audrey J. Walton Track and Field and Soccer Stadium
- 13 seven-figure gifts
- 366 founding members of the Mizzou Leadership Circle, a 28 percent increase over who would have qualified if the MLC existed one year ago
For more information on the Memorial Stadium Centennial Project, including a live construction camera and project blog, please visit MUTigers.com/WhyStopNow.
Additional information on the project is scheduled to be available in the coming weeks and months.
FOLLOW THE TIGERS
For all the latest information on Mizzou Athletics, please visit MUTigers.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow @MizzouAthletics on X. You can also find the Tigers on Instagram and Facebook.
