By LARRY VAUGHT
After years of waiting, there is finally a strong financial commitment to football from the University of Kentucky as a $110-million renovation of Commonwealth Stadium and the Nutter Training Facility is now a go.
The project that has the support of Gov. Steve Beshear and legislature leaders was announced officially today and will give UK the bonding capacity to make needed changes at the stadium to put UK on par — or maybe above some — with SEC powers.
Funding the improvement will be made possible by the 16-20 luxury/corporate suites and about 2,000 club seats to be added. Kentucky officials said there is already a waiting list for this new premium seating, something that has to excite new football coach Mark Stoops.
Construction will begin this year and is scheduled to be done by July 2015. Commonwealth Stadium’s current capacity of 67,942 will be maintained or slightly reduced as improvements are made. Also the plans call for improving concessions, restrooms and security.
And yes, the recruiting room that former coaches Rich Brooks and Joker Phillips wanted finally is included. No longer will UK game day visitors have to eat off temporary picnic-type tables set up in the indoor practice facility as Stoops and his coaches will have a spot to entertain recruits and their families — and big-time donors as well. Also included will be a new home team locker area and an improved media facility
And give UK athletics director Mitch Barnhart credit for being will to use athletics money to contribute $65 million toward the construction of the new $100 million Academic Science Building.
24 Responses to Finally Commonwealth Stadium will get upgrades to show Kentucky is committed to football
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AWESOME NEWS.
There is a new SEC tv football contract on the horizon. The rumor is that the SEC will get its own network and the money will be huge.
The SEC already has it’s own Network.
The HQ is in Charlotte NC, which is kind of odd considering none of the teams from the SEC are from NC. Oh well, NC has to be good for something. HA.
Hey Careful!
Charlotteans are my people now! Been here for 25 years.. Still a Cats fan though and getting new season tickets for the Cats games next year!
With all the revenue that comes in from the football program, it is good to finally see some being put back in. All the non revenue sports and the university general fund benefit from the cash cow that is the football program.
It is great news! Problem is 13 years overdue, and took a fan revolt of walking out and not coming to the games to get this accomplished. That is the sad part in all of this.
It’s sad to say but you’re right. You never get a new traffic light until you kill a few people at an intersection!
Ira, sad but true. Fans made their voices heard by not showing up the final part of season
YEAH!
Great news indeed. This will finally bring needed changes to CWS. The recruiting room is going to be a blessing. Mitch B. deserves credit.
I told you LP…
You did at that Larry T, you did at that. I am so excited for the future of UK football.
Whenever I look over my shoulder I either step into a hole or walk into a telephone pole. The important point is that this is finally done and the timing couldn’t be better. We’ve got some impressive recruits coming in the next three weekends, one is already here. This commitment to football and to being the best will not be lost on these young men. I suspect Stoops and his staff are smiling ear to ear. I know I am.
Larry. Will there be design pictures released by UK of the CWS/Nutter renovation ideas?
Coach Man, none have been released yet. Hoping some will come out soon
To be quite honest, I never thought the facilities, at least those seen by the average fan, were that bad. The bench seating may have been a bit cramped but as a venue in which to watch a game they weren’t, IMO , that bad. For those who go to a game to be seen and socialize they may come up a bit short but I was stepped on so many times by those morons who would not stay in their seats that I long ago decided that they weren’t worth the trouble.
Having said that though, if it helps the football program, especially in the recruiting phase, I’m all for it. It’s about time UK football gets some of the dollars they generate back on to their side of the ledger.
There is ALREADY a waiting list for the premium seating? I bet these people are happy they finally get to sit down.
I just hope we don’t loose much seating. I really hope excitement is so high, and the product on the field makes us have to expand. I realy like my seats, so I don’t want to loose them
They need me to do the interior design, I would be so good. Blue, blue, blue and white! Big old Wildcat in the middle of the field, in all the halls, above the commodes, on the ceilings, UK and footballs everywhere…I would do good. I am so please y’all are getting your dreams, you wish on enough stars for it. Go Cats!
This is awesome. Planning the Spring Game tailgate already!
Politics never ceases to amaze me. Need: Commonwealth Stadium needs renovation. Solution: Get money from the state government to do same. Problem: If the state govenment gives UK the money to renovate the stadium, the UK faculty will raise heck about sports spending and lack thereof on academics. Solution: Take $100,000,000 from the athletic department to build a new Science building………..
You can’t make this stuff up….
Finally, a commitment to UK Football. Best football news in years. Barnhart stated it in public. The man has got the message. The BBN will not tolerate losing football anymore.
IMO THIS AS A GREAT “PUSH” FOR THE FB PROGRAM–BUT I DON’T THINK COMMONWEALTH WAS THE PROBLEM WITH UK FB–THAT LIES ON THE FIELD OF PLAY AND FIELD OF RECRUITING–YES–THIS WILL HELP RECRUITING AND IS A “POSTIVE”–NOW IT’S UP TO STOOPS AND COMPANY WITH ALL OUR SUPPORT[I KNOW I SUPPORT STOOPS AND HIS STAFF —JOKER AND STAFF FRANKLY DID NOT WORK THAT HARD DAY IN AND DAY OUT–STOOPS BRINGING IN FORMER UK PLAYERS IN KEY COACHING POSITIONS WILL BE A PLUS SINCE ALL HAVE GREAT RECRUITING RECORDS AND CONTACTS WHICH WILL BE A STRONG +
HONDO2