In part two of Chip Cosby’s exclusive interview with Mitch Barnhart, the Kentucky athletics director lays out his to-do list for 2011, which includes a major facilities upgrade.
You can read the full details on Kentucky.com here and here, but here are the cliff notes version:
– Barnhart’s primary focus is on renovations to Commonwealth Stadium.
– Renovations to the football stadium would include the addition of club seating and more luxury suites, new scoreboards, the construction of a multi-purpose recruiting room, upgrades to the concession-stand areas, and the addition of electronic monitors in the concourse areas and around the perimeter of the stadium.
– The Commonwealth Stadium renovations would cost between $150-$180 million.
– Construction on a new track complex is set to begin in March.
– Barnhart also hopes to build a new baseball stadium and improve the softball complex.
– The downtown arena initiative proposal that called for a new basketball arena, baseball field and upgrades to Commonwealth Stadium have fallen through.
– Barnhart is still open to a new basketball arena but said the next move is up to the city of Lexington.
Again, for more details on the proposed facilities upgrades, check out Cosby’s story at Kentucky.com.