Kentucky enters final planning stages of on-campus entertainment district

The University of Kentucky’s plans to move forward with its on-campus Sports Adjacent Entertainment District are not only full-go—they’re approaching the final planning stages before construction begins. UK President Eli Capilouto, AD and Champions Blue CEO J Batt and JMI President Paul Archey all updated the progress of the entertainment district at the Champions Blue Board of Governors meeting in Louisville. That came with a confirmation that the school is now in phase three of planning, with only a final request for proposal and final executive summary separating the school from breaking ground. This ongoing process has included four steering committee meetings, a dozen interviews with interested developers, a half-dozen engagements with UK stakeholders, key plans for each site and phasing plans with initial cost estimates, among other boxes checked. The hope for the end product? “The goal is a cohesive, year-round vision for these two athletic districts,” Archey said. “One that connects day-to-day energy with everyday campus life and integrates 365 days a year, not just on Saturdays in the fall.” Kentucky’s first NCAA Tournament under Mark Pope piqued Mitch Barnhart’s interest as he roamed the Deer District outside Fiserv Forum, the home of the Milwaukee Bucks, then the downtown facilities in Indianapolis surrounding the Pacers’ Gainbridge Fieldhouse. UK has also floated the Green Bay Packers’ Titletown Sports Medicine & Orthopedics, the Atlanta Hawks’ Emory Sports Medicine Complex and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center as projects of inspiration. We haven’t heard much from Batt, though, on his excitement for the project — especially considering Michigan State was working on its own entertainment district by the football stadium on his way out. He shared some initial thoughts after he arrived, but not since getting in the weeds as the active AD and the ball now in his court to push this thing across the finish line. “Part of what we think is really important is we imagine the opportunity to extend a game day experience. The goal of the project is to not only have excitement around our game days, but also provide infrastructure for everyday campus life,” Batt said Thursday. “For us, we think of game day as driveway to driveway, right? When you leave your house and you get to Lexington until you leave, extending that, whether it’s through a hotel or other experiences, is important. “It deepens our connection. It provides new opportunities. We certainly are excited about what that might become.”