UK athletics director Mitch Barnhart has asked university President Eli Capilouto and the Board of Trustees Athletics Committee for the approval of a $45 million UK Football training facility. The facility was approved by the committee on Friday morning and moved on to the school’s finance committee, where it was also approved Friday afternoon. the proposal will now be submitted to the Council on Postsecondary Education and the Capital Projects and Bond Oversight Committee for authorization at their February meetings.
“As we continue to make a commitment to improving all of our facilities, this is a significant step for our football program,” said Mitch Barnhart, UK Director of Athletics. “I’m very appreciative of the donors who are stepping up to help with this project. We look forward to completing the funding and design process.”
“We are so excited to get this project started and I am thankful to all of those involved,” Coach Mark Stoops said. “Once again, this is an indication of the great commitment from our administration and our supporters who are making this happen. This facility is already helping us in recruiting and will play a key role in the future of Kentucky football.”
Barnhart noted baseball stadium and indoor tennis facility improvements are next issues to be addressed on UK’s list.
The meeting’s agenda outlined details of the facility:
The project will include a new two-story structure and two practice fields with an adjoining drill area. The new facilities will be
located at the east end of the existing Nutter Field House. The two-story structure for the football program will house administrative offices, locker spaces, team meeting areas, training areas, high performance and weight room spaces, equipment rooms, a hydrotherapy room, player locker rooms, lounge facilities, an academic lounge/study area, and an entrance lobby with enhanced visitor amenities. The project will provide a comprehensive complex to support the entire football operation including Commonwealth Stadium and the Nutter Field House. In addition, space in the Nutter Training Center currently used for the football program will be available to serve University student-athletes participating in other sports.
The project will be funded with private funds.
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