Arena Task Force Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who will be the primary tenant of the new arena?
A: The University of Louisville men's and women's basketball teams.

Q: Are NBA and/or NHL franchises being recruited?
A: Not at the present time. If pro franchises are interested in the future, they would have to accept the University of Louisville as the primary tenant.

Q: How big will the arena be?
A: So far the minimum seating capacity that has been mentioned is 20,000 seats and the maximum is 32,000 seats.

Q: Will the new arena enable Louisville to again play host to the NCAA men's Final Four?
A: The new arena will meet specifications for various NCAA championships, including the men's Final Four. However, NCAA guidelines stipulate that the Final Four will not be placed in any arena where a college team plays the majority of its home games.

Q: How much will the arena cost?
A: That depends largely on the location and the design. However, a conservative estimate of the final total costs is roughly $250 million.

Q: Will taxpayer dollars be used to pay for the new arena?
A: All combinations of public and private financing are being considered.

Q: Will some of the arena's expense be covered by a corporate sponsor who pays for naming rights?
A: Hopefully.

Q: Who will operate the arena?
A: The Governance Working Group is exploring both public and private options, including the Kentucky State Fair Board.

Q: Is it true that a downtown site is the "front-runner?"
A: No. Governor Fletcher has asked the task force members to be completely unbiased and have no preconceived ideas. All viable sites that are brought before the Site Analysis Working Group will be considered from every angle.

Q: What do you mean by a "viable" site?
A: A site must meet a set of criteria that includes the following: Size, cost, and availability of the property; the economic development potential of the property; accessibility in terms of traffic, parking, and public transportation; environmental and historical preservation compliance.

Q: Will there be affordable seating for middle-income and lower-income families?
A: The task force has set that as one of its goals.

Q: Since a college team will be the primary tenant, will good, affordable seating be provided for U of L students?
A: Yes.