LEXINGTON, Ky. — Changes are underway at the University of Kentucky’s historic arena, Memorial Coliseum in Lexington.

For the last few months, Memorial Coliseum’s gymnasium has been temporarily closed for several construction teams to begin working on an $80 million-plus renovation in the 74-year-old arena. 

There will be brand-new locker rooms for basketball, volleyball, gymnastics and stunt athletes.

A new sound system, scoreboards, lighting and bathrooms are being added or updated. The gym now has an HVAC system with cool air. 

The gym will have close to 6,500 seats, slightly scaling down from more than 7,000 seats since its last renovations. 

“It’s going to be neat,” said Mitch Barnhart, UK director of athletics. “From a recruiting perspective, I think it helps us competitively”

He said the modifications will maintain the arena’s history.

“Memorial Coliseum is the name of the facility, and we will never forget the people who helped us have the opportunity to play the sports and who we honor in this facility,” he said. “I think the staff and folks have done a cool job of finding ways both outside the facility and inside the facility to honor our veterans.”

Barnhart added he hopes the space will offer something new for everyone. 

“(We want to) make sure we’re serving the student-athletes that are playing here at the highest level we possibly could and give our fans a good experience of a new club,” Barnhart said.