LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Churchill Downs announced Wednesday plans to transform the bleacher seating in the grandstand near the Kentucky Derby starting gate and upgrade second- and third-floor social spaces inside.

The most noticeable renovation is being made to a seating area at the top of the stretch — also near the Kentucky Derby's starting position — that is currently made up of aluminum bleachers. Once the project is complete, there will be 8,300 "comfortable seating options," including covered and uncovered stadium-style seats as well as boxes along the rail.

Updates will also be made inside, adding amenities for 2,800 guests in the third-floor box seats for what will be called the Starting Gate Suites. The project will also create a new Grandstand Pavilion, an "upscale social environment" that will see the second-floor amenity area converted into a "covered outdoor garden environment." The new Grandstand Pavilion will feature new concession, bar and betting windows.

Churchill Downs officials estimate the project will cost between $80 million and $90 million.

"Like all of our recent enhancements at Churchill Downs, the renovation of the grandstands represents our commitment to providing unique guest seating options while honoring the historic significance of the property in order to achieve a world class sports and entertainment experience for our guests,” Mike Anderson, president of Churchill Downs, said in a news release Wednesday.

The new grandstand project is the latest in a decade-long string of multimillion-dollar capital projects at the racetrack, such as the new $200 million paddock ahead of this year's Derby, permanent seating erected around the track's first turn and the luxurious "Mansion" area for big-spenders.

Construction on the grandstand project will begin in August.

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