Rupp Arena renovations approved

[Rhavicc]

The Lexington Center Board voted unanimously Thursday to hire Messer Construction to do a $241 million renovation of Rupp Arena and the Lexington Center convention facility to be completed by November 2021.

https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/counties/fayette-county/article213989524.html

 

[GonzoCat90]

So I read that paragraph and in my brain my reaction was "2021? Good grief, I guess I'll have my grandkids take me."

And then that's obviously just three years away. Whoa.

 

[Rhavicc]

So I read that paragraph and in my brain my reaction was "2021? Good grief, I guess I'll have my grandkids take me."

And then that's obviously just three years away. Whoa.

Right? It's nuts to me that I've lurked on these forums since about 2011, and it is now almost July of 2018. Time flies.

I'm thrilled that this is finally happening. I was disappointed when the plans fell through the first time and it couldn't get passed.

 

[GonzoCat90]

Right? It's nuts to me that I've lurked on these forums since about 2011, and it is now almost July of 2018. Time flies.

I'm thrilled that this is finally happening. I was disappointed when the plans fell through the first time and it couldn't get passed.

$241 million is a pretty penny, too. Especially for renovations. We aren't building from scratch here. Rupp should be fantastic.

Kind of a win-win. We get to keep Rupp and the tradition, but have state-of-the-art everything and a palace to play in. A perfect metaphor for our program, really.

 

[Smashcat]

The Lexington Center Board voted unanimously Thursday to hire Messer Construction to do a $241 million renovation of Rupp Arena and the Lexington Center convention facility to be completed by November 2021.

https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/counties/fayette-county/article213989524.html

Great!

 

[DCFseattle]

Is that what it's gonna look like for real or just big dreams? Because that's a gorgeous arena.

 

[Rhavicc]

$241 million is a pretty penny, too. Especially for renovations. We aren't building from scratch here. Rupp should be fantastic.

Kind of a win-win. We get to keep Rupp and the tradition, but have state-of-the-art everything and a palace to play in. A perfect metaphor for our program, really.

Absolutely. Already very excited to see this happen.

Is that what it's gonna look like for real or just big dreams? Because that's a gorgeous arena.

That's what $241 million can get you. An arena that is absolutely second to none.

 

[CatGotMyTongue]

Is that what it's gonna look like for real or just big dreams? Because that's a gorgeous arena.

If it follows the narrative for Centerpoint, the only change is tinted glass, one extra concession stand, and 10 extra seats.

We could’ve had something like THIS downtown

Now we have this

 

[dckala2]

Yea studio gang did an awesome master plan for center point. The building going up is awful.

 

[JasonS.]

"The renovation includes a new exterior for Rupp Arena with a signature wedge-shaped front and new upper-level seats."

We're literally giving ourselves a wedgie.

 

[uky8unc5]

Rupp Arena is the centerpiece of Lexington. $241 is an investment in the future of downtown. I love it!

Here in Winston Salem, something as simple as a classy downtown minor league ballpark has already changed the inner city.

 

[FiveStarCat]

Looks like a great place for Cal to spend the last 20 years of his career.

 

[irishcat1965]

It looks like a stunning exterior. Damn, I envy the student body going to UK in the coming years with all of the changes on campus and now Rupp.

 

[CatfanMike47]

It looks like a stunning exterior. Damn, I envy the student body going to UK in the coming years with all of the changes on campus and now Rupp.

The new baseball facility looks awesome and now Rupp! MB is doing his thing

 

[irishcat1965]

The new baseball facility looks awesome and now Rupp! MB is doing his thing

I can’t wait to see the baseball stadium when it is finished.

 

[1977 Cat]

The new baseball facility looks awesome and now Rupp! MB is doing his thing

I can’t wait to see the baseball stadium when it is finished.

That would be the most beautiful basketball facility in this country!

 

[Mojocat]

Remember a few years ago when there was an effort to build a new arena, and it was torpedoed politically mostly because of the YUM Center financial mess and the bond market was in a very bad place? (By the way, that really happened, right - I'm not imagining things?). Anyway, from my hazy recollection, those renderings above look and awful lot like the renderings I'm recalling from that episode a few years ago. Which makes me wonder a bit.....

 

[Calsthebomb]

They'll still be blue hairs in the lower bowl though. Shame.

 

[Rhavicc]

They'll still be blue hairs in the lower bowl though. Shame.

Or perhaps they'll move to the suites.

 

[Cindog28]

I don't care what color their hair is... $30 million dollars worth of private donations can get you a seat where ever you want.

Jmo.

 

[~Keyser Soze~]

They'll still be blue hairs in the lower bowl though. Shame.

I've seen plenty of older fans cheering their asses off. The problem is the people who come to be seen, dont wear blue, usually rocking a Bill Cosby sweater. They come in all ages.

 

[Rhavicc]

Remember a few years ago when there was an effort to build a new arena, and it was torpedoed politically mostly because of the YUM Center financial mess and the bond market was in a very bad place? (By the way, that really happened, right - I'm not imagining things?). Anyway, from my hazy recollection, those renderings above look and awful lot like the renderings I'm recalling from that episode a few years ago. Which makes me wonder a bit.....

The same company that produced those renderings, NBBJ, are responsible for producing these renderings as well.

2014 Renderings:

 

[mdlUK.1]

Will Cal still be our coach? I hope so!

 

[Mojocat]

The same company that produced those renderings, NBBJ, are responsible for producing these renderings as well.

2014 Renderings:

Ok, thanks, I wasn’t imagining things. Do you know what the difference is between what we wanted to do in 2014 and the plan now?

 

[Bigblueduck]

I really hope they incorporate the checker board pattern everywhere you look!

 

[irishcat1965]

I really hope they incorporate the checker board pattern everywhere you look!

That’s history fortunately.

 

[kev69]

Isn’t this old news?

 

[*CatinIL*]

The Lexington Center Board voted unanimously Thursday to hire Messer Construction to do a $241 million renovation of Rupp Arena and the Lexington Center convention facility to be completed by November 2021.

https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/counties/fayette-county/article213989524.html

Please the reno be that ^^^^ and let me live long enough to see it.

 

[Rhavicc]

Isn’t this old news?

No. It just became news today lol.

 

[kev69]

No. It just became news today lol.

I thought they approved this a year ago.

 

[Supafuzz75]

I thought they approved this a year ago.

Way I understand it.. It is the same concept they came up with last year or year before last.. Just now inked the contract to the builder..

 

[M4CAT]

Looks like a great place for Cal to spend the last 20 years of his career.

Maybe even name it Calipari Court haha?

 

[kev69]

Way I understand it.. It is the same concept they came up with last year or year before last.. Just now inked the contract to the builder..

Fair enough.

 

[FiveStarCat]

Maybe even name it Calipari Court haha?

If he wins another title between now and 2021 then I say heck yes. He’s be easily the 2nd best coach in UK history at that point, if he isn’t already.

 

[CatGotMyTongue]

Needs stormtroopers on segways

 

[M4CAT]

If he wins another title between now and 2021 then I say heck yes. He’s be easily the 2nd best coach in UK history at that point, if he isn’t already.

Agreed, like you said. 2 titles would put him above everyone else who has coached here with 1 title and can be known with Rupp as the only coach to hang 2 NCAA Championship banners here. Stays around long enough he'd have been here longer than anyone since Rupp too.

 

[CatPhight]

Needs stormtroopers on segways

Hovercraft

 

[BostonCat2001]

seen too many expectation/reality gifs to get that excited about it.

 

[ok-cats-computer]

 

[AthensCatFan]

If it follows the narrative for Centerpoint, the only change is tinted glass, one extra concession stand, and 10 extra seats.

We could’ve had something like THIS downtown

Now we have this

Not really fair to compare a rendering to a building under construction. White CityCenter will not be what it was first envisioned as, it will a welcome addition to downtown.