Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) has announced its final phase of a three-year redevelopment project that will redesign the Paddock area of the Churchill Downs Racetrack. The company will invest between $185m and $200m in the Paddock renovation.
Updates to the area will include enhancing visibility of the Twin Spires, upgrading audio visual equipment, streamlining guest circulation paths and improving existing ticket products and amenities.
An additional 12,000 square feet of guest space compared to the existing 5,000 square feet will be added as part of the redesign, which will raise capacity inside the Paddock from 1,000 to 2,400 people. Premium club seating and additional club spaces will also be included as part of the redesign.
Once completed, the completed redesign will debut during the 2024 Kentucky Derby, the 150th year for the event.
CDI CEO Bill Carstanjen said: “This is one of the most significant construction projects in the history of Churchill Downs Racetrack because it significantly impacts what we consider to be the heart of the property.
“We took great care to ensure this is designed in a way that would transform Churchill Downs while enhancing our ability to deliver on what our fans hope for and expect from us for generations to come.”
CDI is a racing, online wagering and gaming entertainment company. It currently operates historical racing machines HRMs in Kentucky. The company plans to operate in Virginia and Louisiana, pending the closing of the acquisition of Peninsula Pacific Entertainment and the completion of HRM expansion plans for CDI’s 14 off-track betting facilities.
CDI is also the host of the annual Kentucky Derby.
