Commonwealth Stadium improvements on horizon

The University of Kentucky appears poised to receive bonding support from the state legislature that will help it carry out long-awaited improvements to Commonwealth Stadium.

The University of Kentucky is poised to receive bonding support from the state legislature that will help it carry out long-awaited improvements to Commonwealth Stadium.

UK president Eli Capilouto announced Thursday that the school has plans for a $110 million renovation to the football stadium as part of a larger $275 million update to other campus facilities.

The projects must still be approved by the Kentucky General Assembly, but UK has received support from Governor Steve Beshear, House Speaker Greg Stumbo and Senate President Robert Stivers.

"We have reached a potentially transformative turning point in the life of our campus," Capilouto said Thursday via a video address to UK supporters as part of a #BBNunited campaign.

The plan calls for the $65 million renovation and expansion of the Gatton College of Business and Economics, a new $100 million academic science center to be constructed on the current site of residence facility Donovan Hall, and a $110 million renovation of the Nutter Football Training Facility and Commonwealth Stadium.

The stadium improvements include construction of luxury suites and club seats, upgraded concessions and restrooms, a multi-purpose recruiting room and new media facilities.

Commonwealth Stadium was opened in 1973. With the exception of the 1999 expansion which added seats in the lower deck of both end zones, it has seen very few changes since its first game.

"The renovation will be paid for by athletics and the revenues generated by new luxury suites and club seating," Capilouto said. "We already have a waiting list for these seats. This is critical. The success of our football program is how athletics remains one of the handful of financially self-sufficient programs in the country. It's how athletics funds millions of dollars in academic scholarships and other university needs each year."

Capilouto noted that nearly two-thirds of the new academic science center will also be paid directly from athletics revenue.