Commonwealth Stadium-Lexington, Kentucky Produces Landmark Win!!
On Saturday, September 27, 2015, the Newly Renovated Commonwealth Stadium created the first ever SEC win with a victory over Missouri. More than 126 million dollars was spent on the ‘Transfiguration’ of the structure. Some ‘Transfiguration’s’ cost more than others.
Built in 1973, it is the newest football stadium in the Southeastern Conference, as measured by date of original construction. The original capacity for the stadium was 57,800.
In 1999 both ends of the stadium were enclosed and 40 suites were added, 10 in each corner of the stadium, resulting in a symmetrical oval bowl seating 67,530. The total cost of the expansion was $27.6 million. Seating adjustments over the next decade brought capacity to 67,942.
Recent upgrades included two LED video boards each measuring approximately 37 feet (11 m) high by 80 feet (24 m) wide (2,960 square feet), making each display the 20th-largest scoreboard in the country.
Combined, the 5,920 square feet (550 m2) made the new video boards one of the largest scoreboard systems in the country. Additionally, a new custom audio system and over 1,800 linear sq/ft of video ribbon board was implemented September 10, 2011.The
approximate cost of those upgrades totaled close to $6 million.
This new 2015 renovation includes a new press box, loge box seats, club seats, recruiting room, suites, concourses, bathrooms, lights and exterior facade while reducing capacity to around 61,000.
FRIDAY/PRE-GAME: As I am driving to the stadium, anticipation enters my system. I always go out with the same attitude. I play the role of ‘Marcus Aurelius’, wondering who or what I may encounter. What benefits will be exchanged?