Churchill Downs announces expansion, upgrade project

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - Churchill Downs is getting another upgrade.

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Thursday the world-famous racetrack announced a $37 million capital project that will bring 1,800 new seats for the 2018 Kentucky Derby with the addition of luxury suites, interior dining tables and third-floor Grandstand seats.

The Starting Gate Suites project will encompass 77,250-square feet of new space on the north end of the track. The structure will feature three floors of individual suites, along with dining and event space, and will be built adjacent to the Jockey Club Suites, which opened in 2003.

The new luxury suites will feature indoor lounge seating with a bar and a private-tiered balcony and overlook the top of the homestretch (i.e. where the starting gates are for the Kentucky Derby). The suits will host 1,140 ticketed guests, according to a press release. Up to 36 new individual suites will be able to accommodate groups of various sizes.

"The Starting Gates Suites project is our next step in the company's ongoing efforts to improve and enhance the facilities and the customer experience at Churchill Downs," Kevin Flanery, President of Churchill Downs Racetrack, said in a press release. "The demand for Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks tickets remains extraordinary with the number of reserved seating requests vastly exceeding our available inventory on an annual basis. This sweeping new addition will be a terrific benefit to our facility on many levels."

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Each of the three levels in the new Starting Gate Suites will also include event space with 24 eight-top tables for interior dining for a total of 576 seats. The project will also include the construction of 110 new third-floor Grandstand seats.

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Work on the project is scheduled to begin in January and it will cease prior to April 29, 2017, the start of the spring meet. It will continue after that and is slated to be completed in 2018.

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