Indoor facility and stadium improvements - update

[bthaunert]

Updated on February 17 - approval has been given to build a brand new indoor track and field facility, update the existing indoor facility for full length field and new video boards in the stadium. About $30 million overall.

Saw this on Twitter and thought I’d pass along for those that haven’t seen it.

 

[JPFisher]

Rich Brooks Indoor Training Facility.

Or something. Put that man's name on something football related... Besides plaques.

 

[LordEggForgotHisPassword]

We gettin a dome! 😂

 

[Girthang]

We gettin a dome! 😂

Should have done that instead of many of the upgrades over the years.

 

[maroon79]

Hello Everyone!

welcome to a

You are looking LIVE at Mark Stoops Stadium in Lexington KY where the UK Wildcats look to extend their win streaks over the Viles, the Vols, and the Florida Gators to yrs each.

today, UK looks to take on the UGA Bulldogs where UK only has won 8 straight and 12 out of the last 15

 

[JHB4UK]

Talk is air

Let's see some ironclad commitments, time frames

 

[JPFisher]

Talk is air

Let's see some ironclad commitments, time frames

The time frame has already been set. Sometime between April and the cold-death of the universe.

 

[_ukcat]

Wondering what the Stadium improvements are going to be

 

[Deli owl]

Put Stoops' name on it so he would never be compelled to leave.

 

[TuckyFB]

Wondering what the Stadium improvements are going to be

Needs a new sound system, that's for damn sure. Bigger scoreboards too

 

[RSUK5022]

Here we go natural grass, here we go!

 

[TuckyFB]

Here we go natural grass, here we go!

This. I've walked on the field a couple of times and I hate it and I can't imagine playing on it. Natural grass is way better.

 

[fabcat]

This. I've walked on the field a couple of times and I hate it and I can't imagine playing on it. Natural grass is way better.

We won’t get natural grass. If we were further south it would be ideal. But in Lexington it doesn’t work as good as the synthetic turf. They’re going to use the same type that’s on the Citrus Bowl field.

 

[RSUK5022]

Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Chicago, Washington D.C., Kansas City, all have natural grass. It may not look pretty at times but we’re not playing games into December or January either.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Rich Brooks Indoor Training Facility.

Or something. Put that man's name on something football related... Besides plaques.

Especially since he left because he was tired of empty promises about facility upgrades

 

[vhcat70]

Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Chicago, Washington D.C., Kansas City, all have natural grass. It may not look pretty at times but we’re not playing games into December or January either.

And Green Bay no less. They have a heating system under it.

 

[vhcat70]

Well I hope the improvement plan includes multiple beer taps behind each stands portal.

 

[WildcatFan1982]

Didn't UK spend a fortune on a new irrigation system back in 2001 or 2002? And now it's turf

 

[JHB4UK]

Pretty sure Stoops & Neal Brown wanted the turf so we could practice in the stadium more frequently, esp Spring.

 

[NoDef]

I personally like the turf. Back in the day the field looked terrible in late October and November. I also don't like the fact that the poor field conditions could impact a winner and loser. The turf looks good 365 days a year and you know its a solid surface every time out. It could rain three inches the day before the game and the players probably wouldn't even notice it on the field..This isn't Riverfront stadium turf of the 70's and 80s. Take advantage of new technology.

 

[Freetaxreturn]

Tear down the old indoor practice facility and build a new one, then take out the turf and go to natural Kentucky bluegrass at the stadium 🍺

 

[TBCat]

Tear down the old indoor practice facility and build a new one, then take out the turf and go to natural Kentucky bluegrass at the stadium 🍺

Don't know if they'll tear down the existing facility. It's already built and there is little reason to spend the money to rebuild it. The big want from Stoops as I understand it is the track that cuts through the end zone. That should be relatively easy to fix. There are probably some other upgrades that are needed. Also upgrading will be faster. If you replace the building, you probably won't have it at all for 2 seasons.

 

[pauled]

Didn't UK spend a fortune on a new irrigation system back in 2001 or 2002? And now it's turf

I think that was a drainage system.

 

[Freetaxreturn]

Don't know if they'll tear down the existing facility. It's already built and there is little reason to spend the money to rebuild it. The big want from Stoops as I understand it is the track that cuts through the end zone. That should be relatively easy to fix. There are probably some other upgrades that are needed. Also upgrading will be faster. If you replace the building, you probably won't have it at all for 2 seasons.

Get the contract with demolition team and new build for a 6 month turnkey from old to new.
Also remove the turf at Kroger stadium put it inside the brand new facility then put down all natural grass in the stadium 🍺

 

[Kommonwealth]

Needs a new sound system, that's for damn sure. Bigger scoreboards too

I've not paid much attention to the sound system but definitely scoreboard. It'd be nice ot have at least one monster scoreboard. I could see doing a renovation to connect the auites and put a scoreboard on top. Probably the one opposite the student section,.

 

[LordEggForgotHisPassword]

at minimum they could paint the back of the scoreboards in a professional manner. It looks like me a couple buddies took an afternoon, two hundred gallons of blue and white paint, a truckload of painters tape and made our best imitation of a font and went with it. It looks pretty amateurish.

 

[Girthang]

Getting rid of the water from a natural grass field is problematic if it's raining on or right before a gameday. Recovering that field after playing on it when it is soaked is nearly impossible and adds a ton of expense to the upkeep.

Must be a ton of UK groundskepers on this board. No idea why anyone would be so geeked about natural grass. I've played on both. The artifical turf field they had at the old training center (TimCouchField) was soft and usable in all temps. Played on it once. Spent many days on those fields. I think the same is true of CWS.

I'd rather stick with the turf we have and save the money for other expenditures.

We should also bring the UK Band into the athletic depth and upgrade it in terms of size, athleticism, and style. Spend some money on the band. Beer taps at the stadium! Free mustard bottles for those not thrown out of the game but still legally intoxicated!

 

[Girthang]

at minimum they could paint the back of the scoreboards in a professional manner. It looks like me a couple buddies took an afternoon, two hundred gallons of blue and white paint, a truckload of painters tape and made our best imitation of a font and went with it. It looks pretty amateurish.

Should put a screen on the outside of the west end zone facing the parking lot.

 

[Kooky Kats]

Scrub those dirty checkerboards and tiny midfield logo the hell off Jerry Claiborne field.

 

[3632]

Up to date larger boards and sound system would go a long way. I think they keep turf. If nothing else it lets them keep hosting the state playoffs for branding purposes in state with kids and coaches.

 

[gobigblue812]

Poster on HOB gave a good update of what they are planning on doing.

 

[LordEggForgotHisPassword]

Poster on HOB gave a good update of what they are planning on doing.

and...

 

[BigTyrone]

Should put a screen on the outside of the west end zone facing the parking lot.

That's a really cool idea for tailgating. Are there any stadiums with that setup already?

 

[SosaUK87]

and...

Hate when people do that.

 

[Girthang]

That's a really cool idea for tailgating. Are there any stadiums with that setup already?

Dallas Cowboys and probably others... I don't know if there are college programs doing that.

 

[Girthang]

Up to date larger boards and sound system would go a long way. I think they keep turf. If nothing else it lets them keep hosting the state playoffs for branding purposes in state with kids and coaches.

Exactly. People don't think about the other uses

 

[RSUK5022]

Can’t believe we have people who are for unnecessary injuries to our boys and other teams’ players. Field looks 100x better in 2003 television quality compared to the turf in 2022 HD. Majority of players prefer natural grass.

View embedded media

 

[The-Hack]

Getting rid of the water from a natural grass field is problematic if it's raining on or right before a gameday. Recovering that field after playing on it when it is soaked is nearly impossible and adds a ton of expense to the upkeep.

Must be a ton of UK groundskepers on this board. No idea why anyone would be so geeked about natural grass. I've played on both. The artifical turf field they had at the old training center (TimCouchField) was soft and usable in all temps. Played on it once. Spent many days on those fields. I think the same is true of CWS.

I'd rather stick with the turf we have and save the money for other expenditures.

We should also bring the UK Band into the athletic depth and upgrade it in terms of size, athleticism, and style. Spend some money on the band. Beer taps at the stadium! Free mustard bottles for those not thrown out of the game but still legally intoxicated!

I’m for mustard bottles only if chained down when UT visits!!

 

[Girthang]

Can’t believe we have people who are for unnecessary injuries to our boys and other teams’ players. Field looks 100x better in 2003 television quality compared to the turf in 2022 HD. Majority of players prefer natural grass.

People get injured on both. Can't believe someone on a message board skewed what someone else posted into complete emotional bullsht.

 

[trueblujr2]

Pretty sure Stoops & Neal Brown wanted the turf so we could practice in the stadium more frequently, esp Spring.

They used to have a turf at the old practice facility. The band uses it now. They don't have one at the new facility because it's right next to the stadium now and it can be used instead when they want to practice on it.