Churchill Downs to begin more renovations and upgrades in August

Fresh off the unveiling of a $200 million paddock renovation, Churchill Downs will now focus on upgrading its grandstand seats and renovating a second-floor pavilion at the start of the track’s stretch, the track’s parent company announced on Wednesday.

The two projects, expected to cost $80-90 million, will begin in August of this year, with both expected to be completed in time for the 2025 Kentucky Derby on May 3, Churchill Downs Inc. said in a release.

The areas being targeted include the bleacher seating on the ground level at the far end of the Churchill grandstand, toward the top of the stretch. The bleachers will be replaced with 8,300 “stadium-style” seats, Churchill said, some of them covered but others remaining open-air. Concessions, bars, and wagering windows in the area will be “upgraded,” according to Churchill.

In addition, Churchill plans to create a “covered outdoor garden” on the second floor of the grandstand below the existing Starting Gate Suites that will create a “more upscale social environment” through upgraded amenities, the company said. The renovation will include the creation of an outdoor balcony with additional seating options, Churchill said.

“Like all of our recent enhancements at Churchill Downs, the renovation of the grandstands represents our commitment to providing unique guest seating options while honoring the historic significance of the property in order to achieve a world-class sports and entertainment experience for our guests,” said Mike Anderson, the president of Churchill Downs, in a release.

Churchill has been in a near constant state of renovation for the past two decades, with company officials leveraging the bucket-list draw of the Derby to create more ticketing options for wider ranges of customer spending. Since 2005, the company has spent nearly $700 million on renovation projects.

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