New seating options in grandstand, infield part of Churchill's latest renovation plan

Churchill Downs will renovate the far end of its grandstand and add permanent seating options to its infield in upcoming capital-improvements projects, according to the company’s chief executive officer.

Bill Carnstanjen, the CEO, announced the projects during a conference call on Thursday morning with analysts to discuss the company’s third-quarter earnings. The projects had not yet been formally announced, and Carstanjen said that aspects of the projects were still in a design phase.

One project would entail the reconstruction of an entire section of the grandstand past the finish line that currently houses the Sky Terrace and 10,000 existing seats. The new building will provide 16,000 seats “representing a variety of premium hospitality experiences,” Carstanjen said.

:: Subscribe to the DRF Post Time Email Newsletter: Get the news you need to play today's races!

“This is a considerable undertaking and will meaningfully increase the number of reserved seats and experiential options at various price points,” Carstanjen said.

Churchill will also construct permanent seating “structures” in the infield that will add 7,000 more ticketing options, Carstanjen said. The project may require a new tunnel connecting the frontside of the track to the infield, Carstanjen said.

Carstanjen did not provide cost estimates for the new projects but said that they would be completed by 2026 or 2027. Churchill is currently in the midst of a $80 million renovation project updating its grandstand.

Churchill has spent nearly $1 billion renovating the racetrack over the past 20 years to leverage the popularity of the Kentucky Derby.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.