Barnhart eyeing $150-180 million 'face-lift' for Commonwealth Stadium

University of Kentucky Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart has singled out "facilities" as the No. 1 item on his to-do list for 2011.

Barnhart, in a one-on-one interview this week, said his primary focus will be renovations to Commonwealth Stadium.

The renovations would include the addition of club seating and more luxury suites; new scoreboards; the construction of a multi-purpose recruiting room; upgrades to the concession-stand areas; and the addition of electronic monitors in the concourse areas and around the perimeter of the stadium.

Barnhart said the renovations would cost an estimated $150-180 million.

"Those are things that we need to have updated in our stadium and are a priority with us," Barnhart said. "Whether it's staged in pieces or parts, or in total, we've got to do something with our football stadium that gives our fans some excitement. Foundationally, we've got everything in place at the University of Kentucky to compete in our league. The one thing we don't have that would allow us to move to the level everyone wants to get to is the facilities, and that's the piece that we need to move on."

Uma Thurman Alice Dodd Kate Walsh Autumn Reeser Camilla Belle