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(AP) -- University of Missouri curators quickly approve a request to borrow $72 million to add 6,000 seats to the football stadium in Columbia.

The move comes as Missouri prepares to enter the Southeastern Conference, where eight schools have stadiums that hold at least 80,000.

Memorial Stadium has a capacity of 71,004.

The university's governing board approved the 30-year debt financing plan on Tuesday.

The expansion will consist of 5,200 bleacher seats on the stadium's east side and 800 to 900 premium seats, along with new restrooms, lounges and concession stands.

The financing plan will also allow Missouri to improve its tennis and golf facilities as well as its softball and baseball stadiums.

Missouri also announced a $30 million donation from the Kansas City Sports Trust for further football facility upgrades.

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