{Lexington, Kentucky}...University of Kentucky Wildcats coach John Calipari has commitments of $2.5 million from private donors for an approximately $2.9 million renovation Calipari instigated in mid-January that will provide a brand-new locker room at Rupp Arena. Bill Owen, president and CEO of the Lexington Center, says the remaining $400,000 would come from the capital reserve fund of the Lexington Center Corp. Donations to pay for the work will be made by individuals to the Blue Grass Community Foundation. The board of Lexington Center Corp. last week approved the project, which would expand the men's basketball team's locker room, improve the training room to add hydro-therapy treatment whirlpools, add a medical room with X-ray machine and add a team meeting room, another coach's office, a team lounge and food service area and a new press area. Four other athletic locker rooms would be upgraded, and eight small dressing rooms would be converted into four large ones for a wide range of performers who play Rupp, from rock stars to Disney on Ice skaters. A new second floor mezzanine for storage will be constructed on the west side of Rupp Arena.
