KSR Today: $110M in facility upgrades, Champions Blue and Vince Marrow

So much for the dog days of summer, eh? Something about these late-week developments to give us massive talking points going into the weekend. Exactly one week ago, we were celebrating move-in for the new basketball guys with Malachi Moreno hooping in the KY/IN All-Star Game and meeting the players at Kentucky’s Father/Son and Father/Daughter Camps on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Then the House settlement passed late Friday evening and changed the future of college athletics forever, schools allowed to pay student-athletes directly for the first time ever starting July 1. From there, Vince Marrow left Lexington for Louisville in an exchange of good for evil, followed by Otega Oweh’s first public comments since pulling out of the draft as one of the biggest faces of college basketball entering 2025-26.

Then came a crucial Thursday meeting for the UK Board of Trustees that could lead to massive changes on campus — including $110 million of proposed investments in facility upgrades for Kroger Field and Kentucky football, soccer and softball while also looking into the possibility of a Fan Zone featuring restaurants, hotels and entertainment. They also requested a $31 million operating loan to be repaid with interest, set to cover the financial deficit expected in fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

The itemized breakdown:

• $15M for Kroger Field Stadium maintenance
• $13M to renovate corner suites and elevators at Kroger Field
• $8M for design and infrastructure upgrades with a new West End Zone Club and Wi-Fi at Kroger Field
• $5M for soccer and softball facility upgrades
• $31M operating loan, repaid with interest

Only $41 million accounted for in capital projects, plus the $31 million operating loan — both coming from the university — meaning plenty of wiggle room for projects to be announced “probably more into the fall,” Mitch Barnhart told BBN Tonight’s Maggie Davis.

Basketball upgrades, perhaps? Mark Pope previously said a new practice facility was “certainly past the just imagining phase” and “definitely in the working stages.”

Updates on Champions Blue, LLC — including board members

Out with UK Athletics as we previously knew it, in with Champions Blue, LLC — created for flexibility to rapidly adapt as the landscape of college athletics changes, unlock new revenue streams, protect the university from the unknowns, opens the door for policy differentiation from the university and gives access to outside experts.

Thursday’s BOT meeting also approved the Champions Blue Board of Governors, which will include UK President Dr. Eli Capilouto, UK EVPFA Dr. Eric Monday, UK VP/Chief Strategy and Growth Officer Dr. Rob Edwards, and Position of Senior Advisor to the President Dr. George Wright. Three additional subject matter experts were also introduced with term limits: Keeneland President/CEO Shannon Arvin (three years), former Nike executive and Senior Vice President of Fanatics Chris Prindiville (one year) and former Kentucky football tight end and current financial advisor Jacob Tamme (two years).

Barnhart will be Ex-Officio Member and JMI President Paul Archey will also be a special advisor — both non-voting members.

The transition to a holding company model allows UK Athletics to enter public-private partnerships while exploring real estate ventures and other revenue streams.

The full Board of Trustees will vote on the loans and the Champions Blue Board of Governors on Friday.

Vince Marrow, Mark Stoops break silence

Reported Monday, we finally got confirmation on Marrow’s move to Louisville, announced by the Big Dawg himself with the Cardinals making it official shortly after.

“I am incredibly excited to work with Jeff Brohm and the University of Louisville football program!” Marrow said. “… The opportunity to take on this new and exciting role, in the state where I have so many incredible relationships, was something that I couldn’t pass up.

“… Ultimately, my goal at the University of Louisville is to win a national championship. I am very confident that we can accomplish that goal and I can’t wait to get started!”

Mark Stoops made his first public comments on the departure, as well, saying the program will continue to prioritize maturity and attitude in the toughest conference in the sport.

“We’re thankful for Coach Marrow’s contributions to our program over the past 12 years. As we look to the new season, and a new era of college football, we’re focused on the opportunities at hand,” he said. “We will continue to build a roster and staff that balances talent, experience, maturity, physicality and the attitude it takes to win in the nation’s most competitive conference. I wish my friend and colleague nothing but the best.”

Marrow’s radio tour began Friday morning — he’s already been on two shows and threw shade at the Kentucky offense in one of them. Plenty more to come from those.

Bring on the College World Series!

Things are getting rolling in Omaha on Friday, starting with Coastal Carolina vs. Arizona to start the day at 2 PM ET, followed by Oregon State vs. Louisville at 7 PM ET. From there, UCLA will take on Murray State on Saturday at 2 PM ET with Arkansas battling LSU at 7 PM ET to close out the first round of games — all on ESPN.

It’s a double elimination setup to get us to a best of three championship — one that will hopefully see the Racers holding up the trophy next week.

“When we pulled up yesterday to see the stadium, and to see our banner hanging on the stadium — I mean, just unbelievable. Unbelievable,” Murray State coach Dan Skirka told KSR on Thursday. “… It’s a great group of guys. If you’re looking for somebody to root for, they really, really are a great group. So it just means the world to them; I mean, it really does. And it’s awesome.”

They’re the biggest underdog in the field by a mile. Why not prove the world wrong and put Murray, KY on the national map? We’re all Racers over the next week.