Churchill Downs to add Grandstand Terrace seating

Churchill Downs has invested more than $150 million in renovations and

improvements to its historic facility since late 2001, but there have been no

major improvement projects in that area of the Grandstand during that period.

The improved facilities and amenities will be easily accessible to patrons in

more than 20,000 seats -- approximately 37 percent of the track's reserved

seating -- on Derby and Oaks Days.

"The Grandstand Terrace and Rooftop Garden offer a rare opportunity to create

new seating for the Kentucky Derby and Oaks, but it's even more exciting because

the new and updated amenities will significantly improve the experience for a

large percentage of fans that join us in the Grandstand for this great sports

and entertainment spectacle," said Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs.

"The new and renovated concessions, restrooms and wagering locations will be

conveniently accessible for all of our Grandstand patrons. The result will be

improved service and a more enjoyable experience during the premier weekend in

American racing.

The Grandstand Terrace will include six new reserved seating sections on the

second and third floors of the Grandstand and approximately 24,000 square feet

of mostly covered space on the second floor that will offer food and beverage

stations, wagering positions and restroom access. The new sections 226, 227 and

228 on the second floor will feature traditional bleacher seating, while

third-floor sections 326, 327 and 328 will offer stadium-style, flip-up seats

similar to seating offered for the Derby and Oaks in Churchill Downs' Section

110 on the track's first turn. In addition to the Grandstand Terrace, the

Rooftop Garden will add 13,000 square feet that will feature table seating and a

VIP section for Derby and Oaks.

Nine new restrooms -- which include 350 new fixtures -- are part of the

Grandstand Terrace project, and many other restrooms are being completely

updated.

The new venue also includes a 10,000-square-foot food and beverage plaza

located near the Rooftop Garden and new reserved seating.

One portion of the existing Grandstand set to be razed to make way for the

new Grandstand Terrace will be preserved and integrated into the Grandstand

terrace. A 50' x 100' section of rooftop in the rear of the Grandstand, which

served as the roof of the track's paddock in the early part of the 20th century,

will serve as the roof that covers the largest portion of the Grandstand

Terrace. It's unclear exactly when that structure was built, but horses were

saddled in that paddock prior to the building of a new paddock near the

Clubhouse in 1924. The approximately century-old roof and frame will be elevated

to cover approximately 5,500 square feet of the second-floor Grandstand Terrace.

Demolition of portions of the Grandstand that will be cleared to make way for

the new structure is scheduled to begin on Thursday.

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