Contemporary Research

140 years: That’s how long Louisville’s Churchill Downs racetrack has been in business, and how many years it has been home to the venerable Kentucky Derby. But one annual horse race won’t pay the bills: This is why Churchill Downs is an active racetrack that hosts races throughout the year.

In doing so, Churchill Downs has to compete with every entertainment option clamoring for consumer’ money. This is why the track has spent $150 million since 2001 to update and expand its facilities. Recently, Churchill Downs spent $14.5 million on its Grandstand Terrace and Rooftop Expansion project, with centralized monitor control being an important part of this upgrade.

OPEN AIR GETS MORE ACCESS

The Grandstand Terrace expansion added second and third floor seating, dining, wagering and restroom facilities to a formerly flat section of the track; located to the left of the main Grandstand stretching from the course’s final turn to the homestretch.

The Rooftop Gardens at Churchill Downs outfitted with 12 SunbrightTV 4660HD 46” TV’s provide patrons with live HD racing video, betting odds information, food menus, and signage for special events. Contemporary Research RF tuners receive content at each TV from the RF-IP head-end system. “This open air space holds the ‘economy seats’ at Churchill Downs,” said Erin Shannon, CompView’s audio video designer. (CompView is a Portland, Oregon, system design and integration firm that won the AV contract for the Grandstand Terrace expansion. Shannon is the expert who designed and oversaw the AV installation.)

“The Grandstand Terrace expansion adds second and third-level space to the rear of the economy seats, adding 2,400 elevated and shaded seats to this part of the track complex,” Shannon said.