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UK considering new athletics facility upgrades, announces Champions Blue board members

Zack Geogheganby: Zack Geoghegan06/13/25ZGeogheganKSR
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Kentucky cheerleaders perform at Kroger Field - Photo by Dr. Michael Huang | Kentucky Sports Radio

The UK Board of Trustees Athletics Committee has approved five new capital projects, three of which have to do with Kroger Field.

During Thursday’s meeting, the board requested a $110 million internal loan, to be paid back with interest, from the university to the athletics department that will be used to enhance the fan experience and add future revenue. During this multi-year initiative, $15 million will go toward maintenance at Kroger Field, $13 million toward renovating suites and elevators inside the stadium, and $8 million toward a new luxury club space and accessible public wifi.

Another $5 million will be used to renovate UK’s softball and soccer complexes. The university is set to host the 2026 SEC Softball Tournament. The fifth project revolves around creating a “fan zone” on campus that would include entertainment options, restaurants, hotels, etc. That exact cost will not be known until a request for information is answered. An additional $31 million loan, which will also be paid back with interest, was approved to account for expected deficits.

“We are proposing a new strategic governance structure and operating model, unlike any in the country,” UK President Eli Capilouto said, per a press release. “The goal is to incentivize innovation. The idea is to remain a premier program by pushing us to examine creative ways to grow and generate the revenues necessary to support our success.”

Final approval from the full Board of Trustees is expected during Friday’s meeting.

According to a report from Jon Hale of the Herald Leader, “the money being loaned to the athletics department does not come from state-appropriated taxpayer funds or student fees.” The athletics department will begin to pay back these loans beginning in fiscal year 2028.

More on Champions Blue, LLC

Athletic director Mitch Barnhart and UK Athletics announced in April the creation of a holding company, Champions Blue LLC, which will restructure the athletics department governance to provide more financial flexibility following the approval of the House settlement earlier this month. Under the terms of the settlement, UK will have $20.5 million to use annually for revenue sharing with student athletes.

Over the next year, the UK athletics department will shift to Champions Blue, LLC.

As part of creating Champions Blue, experts from outside the university have been brought in to help lead the new board navigate a college sports world that now more resembles professional sports. The two outside members were announced on Thursday: Keeneland President/CEO Shannon Arvin and former Fanatics executive Chris Prindiville. Former Kentucky football tight end Jacob Tamme, now a financial advisor, will also be on the board. All three were confirmed as the board’s subject matter experts and will have term limits.

Additionally, four voting members, who will not have term limits, were also named to the board: UK president (currently Eli Capilouto), UK executive vice president of finance and administration (currently Eric Monday), UK vice president/chief strategy and growth officer (currently Rob Edwards), and senior advisor to the president (currently George Wright).

This seven-person Champions Blue board is set to meet every month over the following year. Barnhart and JMI president Paul Archey will serve as non-voting advisors.

[UK Board Considers More Than $100 Million in Investments in Future of UK Athletics]

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2025-08-03