The House of Blue

Well the full project for UK Football would have been a 100 million dollar project but it wasn't like they were building a whole new stadium so they could have done the thing in stages. If they have 30 million dollars then do stage 1 of the project, raise some more money then do stage 2 of the project, raise some more money then do stage 3 of the project.... That's just my thinking though and I don't know how feesible that would be to do...

Last night, WKYT posted a full length video interview with Barnhart re a number of topics. At the very end of the interview, they follow-up with Barnhart re his mention of their plans re baseball facilities (whether that be renovating CHS or building a new stadium on Alumni Drive). Barnhart mentions the variation in total expense for recently built SEC baseball stadiums - believe he said they've gone as high $41 million (LSU?). Then went on to say that if UK were to build a new stadium, he would anticipate UK's stadium to be on the low end of that (approximately $25-30 million). That would build a really nice ballpark on Alumni Drive.

Early in the interview on the website (less than 10 minutes in because that's all I listened to), I'm pretty sure he said he was confident the project would begin in the next year or so. I think he said they were exploring financing options and it didn't necessarily have to be done through bonding.

Well he must feel somewhat secure in those assurances to state this in a media interview. Definitely gives me hope.

That would be a good timing for it considering if Joker doesn't work out we'll be looking to hire a new coach.

The man's raised money everywhere he's been. He radically changed the face of UK Athletics and made it a modern organization amid a culture of cronyism and snooty, old money "Well Grandfather donated a 100k in 1975. I don't see why we should have to pay anything NOW" incestuous backroom dealing. He assembled a team that now includes how many BCS Conference AD's around the country?

Have I agreed with every decision he's made? No. WKYT and that whole group should have been cut out and new, modern media relationships built. He should have called Lexington's bluff on Rupp and he should have powered through the IMG Deal. I think he's had to learn a hard lesson in Lexington: You try to be nice and understanding nothing will get done and you'll probably get your throat slit.

I have no problem whatsoever with building a new baseball stadium. I fully support and encourage the effort.

As to football, I too want to see improvements made there. To that end we need changes in the way bonding is authorized at the state level. It is the primarly obstacle to moving forward on that effort.

As to the perception that building a project for one sport reflects negatively on the support of another support is the nature of thinking that has held back UK and this state for decades.

Old fashioned parochialism, or the thought that one area cannot be improved until all areas are improved is the primary reason that UK and the Commonwealth have not progressed at the pace that we would all prefer.

Call is jealously, short-sighted, etc ... whatever term you choose to use, the notion that one or one area cannot progress or benefit until all others can do so has crippled the Commonwealth for as long as I can recall. To be sure, there are exceptions to this ... thankfully.

And, rather than being viewed as a negative as some will no doubt view it, those investments may actually generate both the momentum and revenue to make improvements in other areas as well.

So, yes, I say by all means please proceed with the improvement of facilities for the UK baseball program. This improves UK overall and as far as I am concerned that is a good thing.

You started this matter of factly and ended by stating your opinion. lol

I'm one of those people who if UK is in a Chess match I want UK to win, and I Loved watching the baseball team, I have never been to the. Cliff so I don't know if is run down or not, but i want us to have top of the line facilities in everything.
That being said it would not cost that much to at a minimum add some COLOR and a Wall of Fame to Commonwealth Stadium football is what makes the world (MONEY) go round in the SEC.
I love the new jumbotrons and ribbon board. Love the way Nutter looks and that we have redone the locker rooms in CWS.
We just redone the stuff for Track and a new softball stadium now baseball so there is money somewhere.