UK Board of Trustees approves Kentucky football updates, indoor facility

The University of Kentucky Board of Trustees has approved three major athletics facility renovations, two relating to the football team and one being a new indoor track and field facility.

The total project, which comes out to a projected $30 million, includes a $5 million upgrade of the Nutter Field House, the football team’s indoor practice field. There will also be $5 million worth of stadium renovations at Kroger Field, which will include new video boards, among other upgrades. The indoor track and field facility will cost a total of $20 million.

All expenses will come from private funding.

Kentucky football head coach Mark Stoops has been outspoken about the program’s need for a football-only indoor practice facility, one that gives the team a full 100-yard field to work with. As things stand today, the indoor track cuts off all four corners of the end zone, creating a “dangerous” situation for his team.

“We’ve got to get that track out of there,” Stoops said back in October. “It’s just dangerous and it affects my practice, that’s the bottom line.”

Stoops agreed to a contract extension in December with assurances from UK athletic director Mitch Barnhart that renovations would be made. Now, the upgrades are official.

“I thank the Board of Trustees for their approval of these projects and the generous philanthropy we are receiving that will make them possible,” Barnhart said Friday. “Between track and field, football and our other outdoor sports, there is tremendous demand for use of the Nutter Field House. Having a facility dedicated to track and field, along with a renovated field house designed primarily for football, will be significant for the production, efficiency and safety of our teams and athletes.”

Nutter Field House renovations will create a football-focused environment while also enhancing athlete safety. Planned improvements include replacement of the current surface with installation of a new wall-to-wall turf. Also included in the field house plan are revisions to the mechanical system to improve air circulation and performance as well as new overhead doors and operable windows to add passive circulation to the practice area. New LED lighting will improve visibility during practice and reduce maintenance while improving energy efficiency. The appearance of the training area will be made more attractive with refreshed finishes and new graphics. 

As for the Kroger Field upgrades, the fan experience at football games will be enhanced with the installation of new and improved videoboards on the east and west ends of the stadium. The size and features of the boards are in the process of being determined.

As expected, Stoops is pleased with the planned upgrades.

“We’re excited about the renovation of Nutter Field House, which will improve our practice capabilities, provide a better environment for the players and make our facilities even more attractive to recruits,” Stoops said. “We’re also excited about new videoboards for the fans at Kroger Field. These improvements will help continue the momentum of our program. We are greatly appreciative of the help of our administration and our supporters who are making these projects possible.”

As for the new track and field facility, it’s one that will improve the training and efficiency of UK’s men’s and women’s indoor/outdoor track & field and cross country teams. The building will be located adjacent to the UK Outdoor Track and the teams’ locker rooms and strength and conditioning areas in Shively Sports Center. It will feature a high-banked track, enabling the runners to train on a surface that is now standard for NCAA and Southeastern Conference indoor championships.

With a new indoor structure, along with a new outdoor track and locker rooms that were completed in the past decade, the UK track and field teams – currently ranked in the nation’s top 10 in both the men’s and women’s polls – will have one of the top facility packages in the nation. 

“I’m grateful to the Board of Trustees, President (Eli) Capilouto and Mitch Barnhart for their constant support of our track and field teams. Today is a public example of that support,” said head coach Lonnie Greene. “I’m excited about what a dedicated training facility, highlighted by a state-of-the-art banked track, will do for us in sustaining a championship-level program.

“This will be a significant benefit to our more than 100 student-athletes, who soon will have training, living and dining facilities in very close proximity.”