History
Early arena planning focused on two potential arena sites: one owned by the Louisville Water Company bounded by Liberty Street, Muhammad Ali Blvd, 2nd and 3rd Streets, and one owned by Louisville Gas & Electric (LG&E) on the waterfront between 2nd and 3rd Streets on Main.[16] In March 2006, University of Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino stated he would not coach in an arena built at the water company site.[17] This came at a time when the House budget committee earmarked funding for the arena only if it was built at the water company site. Others, including Papa John's Pizza founder John Schnatter, a major donor to the U of L athletic program, criticized the LG&E location due to its higher cost.[18]
On March 3, 2006, Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher, flanked by Louisville mayor Jerry Abramson, announced at a rally in Frankfort his strong preference for locating the new arena at the LG&E site along the Louisville riverfront as it was "undoubtedly the best site for economic development" and would give the state a good return on its investment. Kentucky senate president David L. Williams pledged to remove the site preference from the budget proposal.[18]
About two months later on April 23, 2006, the Louisville Arena Authority released the design for the interior.[8] The number of seats increased from the original 19,000 to 22,000; it would be divided up between 11,348 seats in the lower bowl, with the remainder on the upper tier. The seat width also increased from 19 to 20 inches. Also included in the release was a proposed sports bar that would be located on the main concourse; it would be open year-round and have views of the Ohio River. The number of suites would increase to 72 that would be located on two levels between the main and upper concourses; they would be twice as large as those in Freedom Hall. A public plaza and concourse along Main Street was also revealed.[8]
Prior to the release of the design, an arena report urged the facility to incorporate energy-saving elements into the construction.[19] Other recommendations included the avoidance of large, blank walls, the inclusion of public art, and the provision of year-round uses inside the building.
On May 21, 2007, the Louisville Arena Authority voted unanimously to remove a hotel from the arena project.[7] The 425-room hotel, which was envisioned as one way to pay off the project, was deleted because other revenues to cover the $252 million construction cost were projected to be higher than expected. The hotel would have also taken land away from a public plaza along Main Street. The Greater Louisville Hotel and Lodging Association also supported the measure, stating that downtown Louisville had enough projected rooms.[7]
The hotel was expected to contribute $1.3 million in annual lease payments, but other sources of revenue were hoped to cover the $573 million in total debt over 30 years on a $339 million bond issue for the arena. Originally, the Kentucky Finance Cabinet projected $211 million in new tax revenues in 2005.[7] A more recent and comprehensive survey was completed recently and the projected revenue increased to $265 million. The other sources of revenue to cover the deletion of the hotel include:[7]
The removal of the hotel would allow for a wider Main Street plaza and would allow for new features, such as a Washington Street entrance.[7] It would also allow for more design flexibility and would lend itself to host after-hour concerts and other events on the plaza.
On April 19, 2010, it was announced that Louisville-based fast food chain Yum! Brands would pay $13.5 million for the naming rights[20] and would sell the products of three of its chains—KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell—in seven concession stands within the arena.[21]
- $265 million from a tax-increment financing district
- The city's pledge of $206 million minimum
- $179 million from interior advertising
- $84 million facility fee
- $63 million in luxury suite revenues
- $37 million in building naming rights
Recent developments
In 2025, the KFC Yum! Center marked its 15th anniversary with a series of community events and commemorations highlighting the arena's role in downtown Louisville's revitalization. Since its opening in 2010, the venue has hosted nearly 2,000 events and welcomed more than 13 million guests, generating an estimated $1.4 billion in economic impact for Louisville.[22]
The Louisville Arena Authority (LLA) began a major roof replacement project in August 2025, covering approximately 250,000 square feet at a cost of about $13.6 million. The new roof is expected to be completed by December 2025. The arena remains operational during new renovations, with no interruptions to any prescheduled concerts or events. The Louisville Arena Authority also announced that more than $100 million renovation plans are expected to be implemented in the next 15 years to enhance the guest experience and make the venue top-notch for hosting sport and entertainment events.[23]
