LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Changes will be coming within the next few years to the Kentucky Exposition Center which is home to the National Farm Machinery Show. The Kentucky Exposition Center will begin a two-phase renovation this year.

In Phase I, (at a cost of $180 million) a new, interconnected 350,000-square-foot building will be able to host events ranging from livestock and equine competitions to trade shows and sporting events.

 David Wallace, vice-chair of the Kentucky State Fair Board and chair of the committee that is working on the renovation, said the exposition center was entering a “new era” with the capital improvements.

 “Everything we’re doing, the primary purpose is Kentucky agriculture,” Wallace said. “This new facility, we’re building it for cattle, livestock, hogs, pigs and horses, and we’ll be able to put in 1,700 cattle ties into that one building. We’re going to be able to put 24 NCAA basketball courts in it and we’ll be able to put 40 volleyball courts in it as well.”

 The new building, roughly the size of six football fields, will be situated directly east of Broadbent Arena and north of the West Wing in an existing parking lot.

 The new construction will include the exposition center’s biggest Class A exhibit hall as well as meeting rooms and offices.

 The $213 million Phase II will include the redevelopment of the exposition center’s West Wing, West Hall and Pavilion into a single, connected 249,000-square-foot multi-purpose building. This new construction building will include exhibit space, pre-function space that connects to Freedom Hall, and new meeting rooms.

 Up to $40 million in upgrades to existing food and beverage operations and 40,000 new square feet of food-focused space at the exposition center’s South Wing will also be part of this phase.

 Ian Cox, Executive Director of Communications for Kentucky Venues, said there’s no specific timeline for the demolition of the existing West Wing, though he said it would follow the first phase.

 Along with the first two phases, the venue is also planning $76 million toward improved infrastructure, signage, and backup power, among other physical improvements.

 According to David Beck, President & CEO of Kentucky Venues, a third phase remains in the planning stages and is years off.

 “We hold about 370 events a year,” Beck said of Kentucky Venues’ two Louisville facilities, the Kentucky Exposition Center near Louisville International Airport and the downtown Kentucky international Convention Center.

 “Last year we had about 7.2 million people come through our doors, over 900,000 downtown and about 6.3 million through the exposition center. We have grown to the point that we now have some clients use both properties at the same time because we’re out-growing our space.

 “We can host a lot of large groups in our facility. We also have a lot of events that need outside space, not just for parking, but for exhibits and demonstrations and events, too.

 The Kentucky Exposition Center opened in 1956. Today, it’s the sixth-largest convention center in the country.

 The center also hosts the North American International Livestock Exposition in addition to the National Farm Machinery Show.

 The stock in trade of the Kentucky Exposition Center is largely livestock and agriculture industry-related events.

 “I often talk about how we’re the largest classroom in Kentucky, because many of our events are youth-oriented. Many of them are educational,” Beck said. “In addition to shows that we have in agriculture, we’ve seen huge growth in all types of sporting events, from fencing to basketball, volleyball and all different types of archery. It’s really been amazing to see.

“By modernizing and expanding our largest event space, we are not only enhancing the visitor experience but also motivating more conventions, trade shows, events and sports to choose Louisville,” said Cleo Battle, Louisville Tourism President & CEO. “This profound investment will drive economic growth, create jobs and solidify our city’s reputation as a premier destination for both business and leisure travelers.”