Since it looks like a privately financed arena for University of Kentucky basketball is all but dead, the city of Lexington is looking at renovation and/ore replacement options for Rupp Arena and the downtown Lexington Center.
Mayor Jim Gray announced he would appoint a task force to look at renovation options, which presumably would also include a discussion of funding options. A new arena isn’t out of the realm of possibility, apparently, but it won’t be along the lines of the private plan first floated by UK and IMG last year.
There’s some room to play with renovation options at Rupp Arena: the place is huge, holding 23,000. And with room in the existing Lexington Center footprint for expansion, there’s the chance to add retail and more at the complex.
RELATED STORIES: MG/ISG retained by UK to negotiate financing, sponsorships at new downtown Lexington arena; Kentucky evaluating three proposals for privately financed arena; New Kentucky arena won’t feature Rupp name; Kentucky explores replacing Rupp Arena; Rupp Arena to become ballet center?
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