Nov 18, 2016, 7:13am EST
Churchill Downs Racetrack plans to spend $37 million to build a three-story addition that will add 1,800 seats in luxury suites, dining areas and a third-floor grandstand.
The 77,250-square foot Starting Gate Suites will be at the north end of the racetrack, next to the Jockey Club Suites.
The project will add as many as 36 luxury suites with indoor lounge seating and a private tiered balcony. It will have capacity for 1,140 people.
Each of the three levels in the addition will have event space with dining tables with room for 576 seats. The project also will include the construction of 110 third-floor grandstand seats.
“The Starting Gates Suites project is our next step in the company’s ongoing efforts to improve and enhance the facilities and the customer experience at Churchill Downs,” Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs Racetrack, said in a news release. “The demand for Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks tickets remains extraordinary, with the number of reserved seating requests vastly exceeding our available inventory on an annual basis.”
Churchill Downs is the flagship racetrack of Louisville-based Churchill Downs Inc. (Nasdaq: CHDN).
Carolyn Tribble Greer manages digital operations of the news department.
Churchill Downs Racetrack targets $16 million Clubhouse renovation
The racetrack, which is owned by Louisville-based Churchill Downs Inc., said Tuesday that it will invest $16 million into the renovation of the second floor of its Clubhouse facility, a popular spot during Kentucky Derby and Oaks day and other major events.
The racetrack also is creating a new Twin Spires Club Elite Gold Room for VIP bettors that will stand beside an expanded Champions Bar that will have new covered balconies and table seating with a view of the Paddock.
Also, the Aristides Lounge — an unfinished space used for select events — will be transformed into a permanent event space with table seating and a wall of 90-inch flat-screen televisions, the release said. Furthermore, the racetrack will debut The Loft at Aristides Lounge, an enhanced dining and simulcast wagering area.
In addition to the new lounge and dining options, all decor within the renovated Clubhouse area will be a mix of modern furnishings with historical context, reflecting the past and history of the legendary racetrack, according to the release.
“Churchill Downs places the highest emphasis on customer service, and we’re listening to what our guests have told us,” Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs Racetrack, said in the release. “Through recent post-event surveys, customers have steadily told us that they’d prefer better flow in our facility with less time waiting in line, more restrooms and additional food offerings.”
The project is set to start after the fall meet concludes, which runs from Oct. 30 until Nov. 27, and will be completed before the start of the 2017 spring meet on Saturday, April 29, kicking off Kentucky Derby week.
This project follows an $18 million renovation of the racetrack’s Turf Club and other premier locations completed last year by Churchill Downs Inc. (Nasdaq: CHDN).
Racetrack officials said Tuesday that $87.4 million has been spent on major capital improvements to the racetrack in the past seven years and $209.8 million since a major Clubhouse and Grandstand renovation wrapped up in 2005.
AT&T says Churchill Downs DAS handled record amount of peak data usage during Derby
by Ben Munson |
May 10, 2016 4:56pm
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AT&T (NYSE: T) and DAS provider Mobilitie have released some numbers for mobile data usage rates at Churchill Downs during the Kentucky Derby, including what the companies are calling a record of 815 GB used during a single hour.
The record for peak hourly usage occurred between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. EST during the race and includes data that ran over the DAS network as well as over AT&T’s nearby Cells on Wheels (COW) and cell sites. Overall, the companies say AT&T customers near Churchill Downs burned through 11.4 terabytes of data during the weekend. The total means data use has grown 430 percent over the past four years.
The updates Mobilitie this year made to the underground server room and its managed distributed antenna system on site were designed to boost capacity by 50 percent. It ended up supporting more than twice the amount of data (4.3 terabytes) that ran over AT&T’s network last year.
The neutral-host DAS constructed by Mobilitie consists of more than 290 antennas and more than 1 million feet of fiber optic cable running through the venue.
In addition to AT&T, T-Mobile (NYSE:TMUS) also used Mobilitie’s DAS at Churchill Downs to support its customers mobile data usage.
For the entire Derby weekend, AT&T and Verizon (NYSE: VZ) saw a combined 20.15 terabytes of data — a total of Verizon’s 8.75 terabytes and AT&T’s 11.4. As Mobile Sports Report points out, that’s a big increase over the 2 terabytes AT&T customers used and the 1.37 terabytes Verizon customers used during the Kentucky Derby weekend two years ago.
Churchill Downs DAS Room
Horse racing in Kentucky dates back to 1789, when the first race course was constructed in Lexington. Almost 100 years later, in 1875, Churchill Downs officially opened its gates in Louisville, and began its tradition as “Home of the Kentucky Derby” and the longest continually running sporting event in America.
Calhoun Construction served as the Construction Manager/General Contractor building a DAS Room for their new telecommunications system. As the General Constractor we self-performed the metal stud framing, drywall hanging and finishing, ceiling, and paint. Maintaining an aggressive schedule and was able to complete the buildout prior to the start of the racing season.
AT&T (NYSE: T) and DAS provider Mobilitie released some numbers (after the 2016 Kentucky Derby) for mobile data usage rates at Churchill Downs during the Kentucky Derby, including what the companies are calling a record of 815 GB used during a single hour.
The record for peak hourly usage occurred between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. EST during the race and includes data that ran over the DAS network as well as over AT&T’s nearby Cells on Wheels (COW) and cell sites. Overall, the companies say AT&T customers near Churchill Downs burned through 11.4 terabytes of data during the weekend. The total means data use has grown 430 percent over the past four years.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” saved_tabs=”all”]
Square Footage: 500 sq ft
Year Completed: 2016
Project Location: Louisville, KY
Contract Type: Construction Manager/General Contractor
Churchill Downs Broadcast Control Room
Horse racing in Kentucky dates back to 1789, when the first race course was constructed in Lexington. Almost 100 years later, in 1875, Churchill Downs officially opened its gates in Louisville, and began its tradition as “Home of the Kentucky Derby” and the longest continually running sporting event in America.
Calhoun Construction Services served as the Construction Manager/General Contractor for the Churchill Downs Broadcast Control Room . The project consisted of demolition of the existing space, mechanical, electrical and architectural revisions to accommodate the new control room. The new Broadcast Control room houses the equipment and crew to produce simultaneously the “Big Board” and Churchill Downs Simulcast shows, and provide camera and data signals to NBC and NBCSN for their production of the Kentucky Derby.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” saved_tabs=”all”]
Square Footage: 1,568 sq ft
Year Completed: 2016
Project Location: Louisville, KY
Contract Type: Construction Manager
Timeline Photos
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_gallery admin_label=”Gallery” fullwidth=”on” show_title_and_caption=”on” show_pagination=”off” background_layout=”light” auto=”off” hover_overlay_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.9)” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” gallery_ids=”3606,3605,3604,3603,3602,3601,3600,3599,3598,3597,3596,3595,3594,3593,3592,3591,3590,3589,3588,3587,3586,3585,3584,3583,3582,3581,3580,3579,3578,3577,3576,3575,3574,3573″ orientation=”landscape” module_class=”frame” /][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http://www.calhounconstructs.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/churchill-logo.png” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” alt=”Churchill Downs logo” title_text=”Churchill Downs logo” use_overlay=”off” module_class=”frame” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]Churchill Downs finishes $18 million renovations in time for Kentucky Derby
Apr 26, 2016
Churchill Downs renovations complete in time for Opening Night
Apr 26, 2016
The new clubhouse enhancements project at Churchill Downs is almost complete.
Crews expanded and opened up the Stakes Room, Roses Lounge and Turf Club and added a balcony to the Turf Club.
Bridles now hang from the ceiling of the Stakes Room and are one of many new features that help highlight the rich horseracing history of Churchill Downs.
“There’s actually an etching with horses running and one gold standing out says 89-1,” Churchill Downs president Kevin Flanery said.
The etching represents Donerail, the 1913 Kentucky Derby winner and the longest shot ever to win the Derby.
The following year, Old Roosevelt won the run for the roses and then Regret. All three winners are honored at the racetrack-shaped bar, dubbed the Over the Top bar.
“(They) were the three horses that Matt Winn said put the Kentucky Derby over the top in American consciousness. It made the Derby what it is today,” Flanery said.
Today, the Kentucky Derby attracts more than 100,000 people, many from across the country.
The hidden treasures serve as reminders of how it all started. They’re not only accent points, but history lessons.
“We have redesigned it and really tried to celebrate the history of racing,” Flanery said.
On Derby Day, horse owners and trainers and business people from across the country will be hanging out in the Stakes Room.
The Turf Club is a private membership club, which has newly constructed balcony seating.
“We have redesigned it and really tried to celebrate the history of horse racing. In particular, we have 12 tables, in the wood grain is in the style of the silks of all 12 Triple Crown winners. Little things like that to say, ‘I’m not just having a dining experience, I am having a dining experience at Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby,’” Flanery said.
With the renovations, seating has been increased by 41 percent.
Many artistic features were added to reflect the horse racing industry.
The project cost $18 million.
Construction should be completed by Opening Night, which is 5 p.m. Saturday.
Inside The $18 Million Churchill Downs Renovation (And Its Secret Bar)
Apr 21, 2016
The $18 million renovations at Churchill Downs CHDN +% have modernized, opened up and expanded the spaces for premium seating areas in the third floor Turf Club and the fourth floor Stakes Room and Clubhouse. Among the ostentation on Kentucky Derby weekend, there will be an eye sore, however. Walk along the third level, past the owners and their families schmoozing in the Director’s Room, and you will find what appears to be the door to an HVAC utility room.
You will not be able to open it and walk through freely. Access beyond that door requires an invitation from racetrack president Kevin Flanery. Only then will you be escorted in, revealing wing-backed chairs, leather barstools, walnut wood interiors and marble finishes of a dimly-lit speakeasy featuring Woodford Reserve cocktails from James Beard Award-winning mixologist Charles Joly.
“Everyone knows that on Derby Day, the highest value is space,” says Mark Giles, a project manager from Project Control, which handled the new construction. “Anytime you can get breathing room it’s a big deal.” Both in spirit and hard numbers, the 400-sq.-ft. hideaway is the most valuable space paved by the renovations. Giles says it was ”probably the most expensive part of this whole project because of the materials and finishes.”
Churchill Downs is following the recent trend of sporting venues enhancing food and beverage programs from Levy Restaurants. The new premium seating spaces will have live food service pumping out improved dishes and cocktails throughout the day, including offerings from a stone and fire pizza oven and a prime rib rotisserie. There will be varying table sizes, lounge seating, race-day entertainment, in-seat technologies and added wagering windows.
Inside look at Churchill's pre-Derby renovation
As Churchill Downs nears the end of $18 million in renovations to a number of its premium seating and lounge areas, the Central Avenue track offered a glimpse inside them Tuesday to local media. Called the “Clubhouse Enhancements Project,” improvements were made across 82,000 square feet and bumped reserved seating capacity 41 percent, from 1,886 to 2,660. Total reserved seating at Churchill on Kentucky Derby Day will this year be 58,654.
“We’ve really tried to celebrate the history of horse racing at Churchill Downs and the Thoroughbred industry,” said Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill’s racetrack operations. “You’ll see a lot of prints and accent points that are sort of hidden treasures in this new construction.
Here’s what stood out from the tour…
Stakes Room: Churchill’s fourth-floor premium area previously consisted of four rooms. Now it has been opened up, and “during the year we have a lot of opportunities for just the average person around town who wants to come out for a day of racing,” Flanery said. The centerpiece is the “Over the Top Bar.” It pays homage to Derby winners Donerail, Old Rosebud and Regret, who from 1913-1915 former Churchill president Matt Winn said made the race what it is today — or put it over the top. Etched into the bar, which is shaped like the race track, are quarter poles.
Turf Club: The track caught HGTV and Food Network fever in transforming this third-floor space into an open concept, well-lit area where food will be prepared in front of guests. A new pizza oven and massive rotisserie are on hand with meals prepared by a chef. Flanery said he expects “five times more service” to get guests food and drink faster. The turf club’s boxes have transformed from the typical green-railed spaces to white-walled booths with electronic charging stations.
Churchill Downs Turf Club
Horse racing in Kentucky dates back to 1789, when the first race course was constructed in Lexington. Almost 100 years later, in 1875, Churchill Downs officially opened its gates in Louisville, and began its tradition as “Home of the Kentucky Derby” and the longest continually running sporting event in America.
Calhoun Construction Services served as the Construction Manager and General Contractor for this Churchill Downs Turf Club renovation. The project included demolition and renovation of the third and fourth floor Turf Club, outdoor bar, 2 new express elevators to the Turf Club and new ultra exclusive speakeasy bar.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http://www.calhounconstructs.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Ryan-Jordan-Churchill-quote.png” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” use_overlay=”off” /][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http://www.calhounconstructs.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Churchill-Downs-Logo.png” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” use_overlay=”off” /][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http://www.calhounconstructs.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Turf-Club_noise-auto_107.jpeg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” module_class=”frame” /][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” saved_tabs=”all”]Square Footage: 75,000 sq ft
Year Completed: 2016
Project Location: Louisville, KY
Contract Type: Construction Manager