History
Hoch Auditorium was built in 1927 and, with about 5,500 seats, served as the Kansas Jayhawks' basketball venue until Allen Fieldhouse opened in 1955.
A lightning-caused fire on June 15, 1991, destroyed the auditorium and stage, though the limestone facade and lobby survived. Reconstruction finished in 1997, and the building now holds lecture halls as Budig Hall.
Why it matters: The Kansas Jayhawks' home court for nearly three decades before Allen Fieldhouse.
Timeline
- 1927Built[1]
Hoch Auditorium was built.
- 1955Basketball leaves[1]
The Jayhawks moved to the new Allen Fieldhouse.
- June 15, 1991Lightning fire[1]
A lightning-caused fire destroyed the auditorium and stage.
- 1997Rebuilt as Budig Hall[1]
Reconstruction was completed and the building reopened with lecture halls.
The site today
| Physical status | Standing, repurposed |
|---|---|
| Current use | Budig Hall lecture halls behind the surviving Hoch facade[1] |
| Surviving remnants | The limestone facade and lobby survived the 1991 fire |
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Teams & events
| Kansas Jayhawks | NCAA |
|---|
Listed here are organizations that used this physical venue. A franchise's history and a venue's history are tracked separately.
Venue facts
| Other names | Budig Hall; Hoch Auditoria |
|---|---|
| Location | Lawrence, Kansas |
| Venue type | auditorium |
| Sports | Basketball |
| Level | NCAA |
| Opened | 1927[1] |
| Last used for sports | 1955[1] |
| Physical status | Standing, repurposed |
| Final capacity | 5,500[1] |
Documented details
- After the rebuild the rear half was named Budig Hall for Chancellor Gene Budig, and the facade inscription became "Hoch Auditoria."[1]
Sources
- Hoch Auditorium, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: capacity, closed, coordinates, current land use, events, opened, teams
Research confidence
Some facts on this page rely on a single source or are still being corroborated. Treat specific dates and figures with care. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.