Churchill Downs Plans 3-Phase Expansion Project

The iconic horse track in Louisville, Kentucky, Churchill Downs, has announced a three-phase renovation and expansion project of the 150-year-old facility at a cost of nearly $1 billion.

Let’s delve deeper into the project and explore how it could transform sports betting into a more immersive and user-friendly experience.

Getting With the Times

Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI) has big things in store for its venerated horse racing oval, although it will take several years before it is all completed. There will be four separate and distinct projects that will run about $920 million and will be done in three phases. It is the most extensive renovation in the track’s 150-year history. The work is scheduled to be fully completed by 2028, in time for the 154th running of the Kentucky Derby.

Some of the renovations are already underway, and visitors will notice $90 million in upgrades before the 151st Run for the Roses in May. Premium seating will take the place of aluminum benches where the race begins and at the top of the stretch. In total, there will be 8,300 “comfortable seating options,” including covered and uncovered stadium-style seats as well as boxes along the rail.

The second floor will see the creation of the Grandstand Pavilion, described as an “upscale social environment” that will be a “covered outdoor garden environment.” The third floor will feature the newly established Starting Gate Suites, which will accommodate 2,800 patrons in luxury box suites.

What’s Next?

The most expensive aspect of the project is being billed as The Skye and will cost $455 million to $465 million and be completed by May 2028. A new five-story building will be constructed to enclose and upgrade the south exterior. The 11,500 uncovered box seats and restaurants will be eliminated and replaced with 13,300 new seats to allow “premium hospitality experiences.” Along with it, some other projects are aiming for a revamp of their accommodation and hospitality services, such as:

• The Conservatory Project: It will cost approximately $330 million and will be completed by May 2027. A brand-new building will be built, spanning the top of the backstretch to the finish line, and will replace 2,100 temporary seats with 7,000 “premium experiences.”
• The Pagoda Club and Terrace: It will be featured as part of the Conservatory Project and allow visitors “unprecedented visibility” of the grandstand and winner’s circle. There will also be nine upgraded suites and rooftop dining, which will also offer stunning views of the racetrack.
• The Infield General Admissions Project: It will cost between $60 and $70 million, adding three permanent structures for general admission guests. The first building will be open to the public in 2026, in time for the 152nd Kentucky Derby, followed by the second building in 2027 and the third building in 2028.

Between $45 million and $55 million will be allocated for the far more utilitarian infrastructure projects throughout the track that will add a tunnel to the infield. However, according to the company, this tunnel will have a story to tell as it will be an “immersive underground journey for guests delivering 150 years of Kentucky Derby storytelling magic and building excitement for the day ahead.”