A day before kickoff, KU does not have a signed contract with the Chiefs to play at Arrowhead Stadium | to play KCUR

Editor's Note: KU Athletics told KCUR Friday afternoon that the contract had been signed with the Chiefs. They have not yet submitted the contract to KCUR.

Original story continues below:

They paint a Jayhawk on the field at Arrowhead Stadium.

The University of Kansas Athletics said it plans to be on site Friday to prepare the press box for Saturday's football game against TCU.

KU head coach Lance Leipold is excited to play at the Chiefs' home stadium.

“Hopefully the fans will come, be energetic and can help us when we need them,” said Leipold.

Here's the problem: KU and the Chiefs have yet to sign a contract that will allow the Jayhawks to play at Arrowhead.

“It’s complex,” KU Athletics spokesman Daniel Berk said.

Berk doesn't want to go into detail about these complexities other than to say that insurance coverage is one of them.

KU announced Jan. 30 that it would play its home football games in Kansas City while renovating Memorial Stadium in Lawrence for $450 million. The first two took place at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. The rest will be played at Arrowhead.

The day after KU announced the away games, KCUR filed a Kansas Open Records Request for the contracts.

Before the Jayhawks opened the season against Lindenwood University in August, KU Sporting provided KC with a contract to use its park.

But week after week, in response to follow-up questions, KU repeatedly sent emails from the Custodian of Public Records saying it had “no decisive answer to offer at this time” regarding the Arrowhead contract. Each email ended with the same sentence: “Thank you for your attention and patience.”

Then on Wednesday, KU sent an email saying, “The University of Kansas does not have a final agreement” for the games in Arrowhead. She promised to provide the contract once it was signed and reviewed by the university's lawyers.

Berk told me not to worry.

“It's been six months of complex communication, but we fully expect an agreement,” he told KCUR.

As complex as the contract with Chiefs may be, the one with Sporting is short and simple. The “Letter of Agreement” is only four pages long. KU paid Sporting $100,000 in rent and another $150,000 for game operations, according to the deal obtained through the open records request.

Sporting KC retained all park and concession revenue and received 20% of KU merchandise revenue sold at the park. KU was also required to reimburse Sporting for “reasonable” and “documented” costs to repair any damage to the field.

The Chiefs did not respond to an email seeking comment.