Arena
Task Force Press Releases
Governor
receives task force’s recommendations
09/30/05 Governor Ernie Fletcher's Communication Office
LOUISVILLE - Governor Ernie Fletcher today received the final report
from the Louisville Arena Task Force. The report includes recommendations
from the task force involving the location, financing, use and operation
of a proposed downtown arena and entertainment complex.
City
to Cover Difference in Arena Costs
09/08/05 Courier-Journal (Louisville)
City officials said yesterday that it won't cost the state more to build
an arena downtown than at the fairgrounds because Louisville's metro
government is willing to cover the difference.
Task
Force Backs Downtown Arena
09/07/05 Courier-Journal (Louisville)
LOUISVILLE - The Louisville Arena Task Force yesterday endorsed a committee's
recommendation to build the proposed arena on the riverfront downtown,
at Second and Main streets.
The
Devil's in the Details
09/07/05 WHAS (Louisville)
The Arena Task Force can't agree on cost estimates, how many seats an
arena should have or where it should be built. But the task force chair
says they'll meet every day if they have to later this month, to come
up with one recommendation for Governor Ernie Fletcher and state lawmakers
to consider. It's a battle of cost versus location for the members of
the Arena Task Force. They do agree that the downtown LG&E site
next to the Second Street Bridge is the best location.
Abramson
Says There's New Money On Table To Pay For Arena
09/07/05 The Louisville Channel (Louisville)
There's new money on the table to help pay for an arena in Louisville.
Mayor Jerry Abramson said the city could pay up to one-third of debt
payments each year for an arena, but only if the facility is built downtown,
WLKY NewsChannel 32 reported.
Louisville
Deserves a Better Court
09/01/05 The Sporting News
Still another committee in Louisville has recommended that a new arena,
which would become the homecourt for Rick Pitino's Cardinals, should
be situated in the city's Downtown area. The idea is that an arena built
there might stimulate growth and commerce in the city. Seems reasonable.
Louisville's downtown appears clean and quiet - and only one of those
qualities generally is viewed as desirable.
Mayor
Pledges One-Third of Arena Cost
09/02/05 Courier-Journal (Louisville)
Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson pledged yesterday that Louisville metro government
would pay one-third of the cost of a downtown arena -- which a consultant
projected yesterday at $350 million.
Panel
Supports Riverfront Arena Site
09/01/05 Courier-Journal (Louisville)
A new Louisville arena should be built downtown, at Second and Main
streets, to help reconnect the city to the waterfront and make a bold
architectural statement, a site selection committee recommended yesterday.
Consultant:
Arena Should Be Downtown
08/31/05 Courier-Journal (Louisville)
The old Louisville Water Co. block may be too small for a new arena,
but another downtown site -- at Second and Main streets -- has great
potential, an architectural consultant told a Louisville Arena Task
Force committee yesterday.
Arena
Should Be Built on LG&E Site, Committee Votes
08/31/05 Courier-Journal (Louisville)
Louisville's new arena should be built downtown, at 2nd and Main streets,
a committee recommended this morning.
Fair
Board May Manage New Arena
08/27/2005 Courier-Journal (Louisville)
Saying the Kentucky State Fair Board "has a long, proven record,"
a committee yesterday recommended that the agency manage a proposed
Louisville arena.
Fair
Board Recommended To Run Any Arena
08/27/2005 (WHAS)
There is still no final word on a design. In fact, there is no formal
decision yet on a location. But a subcommittee of the Arena Task Force
has already recommended the Kentucky Fair Board is the best choice to
manage a new arena.
Experts:
Arena Best Downtown
08/26/2005 Courier-Journal (Louisville)
Building a new arena near the fairgrounds could help spur new restaurants,
hotels and stores -- but a downtown arena still has greater economic
potential.
Sprint
Arena Design Revealed
The Kansas City Star
The final design of the Sprint Center arena, described as “a glistening
jewel in the revitalization of downtown Kansas City,” was revealed
at a City Council meeting today.
Fair
Board Offers New Arena Site
08/19/05 Courier-Journal (Louisville)
Seeing momentum growing for a downtown arena site, the Kentucky State
Fair Board yesterday offered a new proposal: Build the arena on Crittenden
Drive, within walking distance of hotels and restaurants.
Eenie
Meenie Minie Moe, Catch a New Sports Arena Location By Its Toe
LOUISVILLE, KY. (AP)
The group formed to pick a site for a new sports arena in Louisville
has voted to eliminate a proposed arena location near the University
of Louisville.
Arena
Task Force Adds New Site To Mix
LOUISVILLE -- A new location for a possible new arena in Louisville
is getting interest from the Arena Task Force. The committee is calling
it the New Fairgrounds option, which actually is outside the Fairgrounds,
WLKY NewsChannel 32 reported Thursday.
New
Arena Far From Done Deal
WHAS (Louisville)
In Louisville, the argument is over where to build a new arena. But
for legislators from rural Kentucky, it's whether to build a new arena.
“If you’re living paycheck to paycheck with no health insurance
and worrying about paying your medical bills and the price of gas and
all those things, it may not be much of a priority,” says Rep.
Robin Webb (D- Carter County).
Downtown
Arena Sites May Handle Traffic, Parking Better
08/16/05 Courier-Journal (Louisville)
A downtown arena would have ample parking and streets near it could
handle the traffic better than those around the state fairgrounds or
a site near the University of Louisville, according to an analysis by
the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
Momentum
Building For Downtown Arena
08/11/05 Courier-Journal (Louisville)
The momentum for building an arena downtown appears to be gaining ground,
while a site near the University of Louisville likely will be eliminated
soon, those involved with the Louisville Arena Task Force said yesterday.
Arena
task force wants to know cost of buying 3 potential arena sites
07/19/2005 Courier-Journal (Louisville)
With four sites in mind for a Louisville arena, the state will hire
a real estate.
Around
Kentucky: Frankfort - No secret meetings, task force told
07/19/2005 Lexington Herald-Leader
The Louisville Arena Task Force must comply with the Open Meetings Act
and cannot meet in secret to discuss or vote on the selection of a consultant,
the attorney general's office said.
Arena
panel cuts favorite sites to 4
07/13/2005 Courier-Journal (Louisville)
After closely reviewing 10 potential sites, ranging from downtown to
Portland, the Louisville Arena Task Force's site-selection committee
has narrowed its favorites to four.
Panel
hears options for funding arena
07/12/2005 Courier-Journal (Louisville)
Louisville could finance a new arena through a variety of options, from
a ticket tax to the sale of club seats and luxury boxes, an economist
told the Louisville Arena Task Force yesterday.
NCAA
suggests downtown arena site
07/08/2005 Courier-Journal (Louisville)
INDIANAPOLIS -- If Louisville wants to attract NCAA tournaments, its
proposed arena ideally would be downtown, allowing athletes and fans
to walk to hotels, restaurants and entertainment spots, according to
NCAA representatives.
Arena
Site Near River Suggested
07/01/2005 Courier-Journal (Louisville)
Greater Louisville Inc. has proposed a new site for a downtown arena
-- the block containing Louisville Gas & Electric's transmission
monitoring station and a substation at Third Street and River Road.
Public
Can Air Views on Arena
06/19/2005 Courier-Journal (Louisville)
Reaching for a comb to part a customer's hair, beautician Loretta Wilkerson
paused to think about where Louisville should build an arena.
Task
Force's Downtown Tours Yield Project Tips
06/17/2005 Courier-Journal (Louisville)
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Five members of Kentucky's Arena Task Force flew to
Indianapolis, Memphis and Nashville, Tenn., yesterday to visit arenas
for ideas on how best to build one in Louisville.
Task
Force to Tour Other Cities' Arenas
06/16/2005 Courier-Journal (Louisville)
State Sen. Dan Seum said he's no expert in building and financing arenas.
So when he and other members of the Louisville Arena Task Force visit
sports facilities today in Indianapolis, Nashville and Memphis, Tenn.,
he plans to ask plenty of questions.
Group
Backs Firm as Arena Consultant
06/14/2005 Courier-Journal (Louisville)
The state arena task force met in private yesterday and voted to recommend
that the Commerce Cabinet hire an arena consultant -- actions possibly
in violation of the Kentucky Open Meetings law.
Louisville Arena Task Force Close
To Hiring Consultant, Hears From Four Site Advocates
Release Date 6/13/2005
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Louisville Arena Task Force moved a step
closer to hiring a consultant yesterday and heard presentations by four
groups with a vested interest in the type of the new all-purpose arena
that will be built in Kentucky’s largest city and where it will
be located.
Here’s
How Louisville Stacks Up Against 14 Similar Cities in The Arena Derby
Release Date 6/9/2005
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Paul Coomes of the University of Louisville,
who will be assisting the Louisville Arena Task Force with economic
studies and analysis, has identified 14 cities that are appropriate
measuring sticks for Louisville.
Public
Can Offer Views on Arena
06/08/2005 Courier-Journal (Louisville)
The governor's Louisville Arena Task Force will hold a daylong public
hearing June 20 to gather citizens' views on sites, financing and other
issues related to a proposed basketball arena.
Arena
Task Force Works to Hire Consultant Quickly
06/07/2005 Courier-Journal (Louisville)
Facing an Oct. 1 deadline, the Louisville arena task force is moving
quickly to hire a consultant with experience building arenas.
Unique
Merchandising Program Underway for Kentucky Unbridled Spirit
Release Date 6/6/2005
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Site Analysis Working Group of the Louisville
Arena Task Force will hold its first meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June
7, in Room 101 at the Kentucky International Convention Center.
Editorial:
Bigger, emptier - Host should know arena isn't economic development
06/03/2005 Lexington Herald-Leader
As any pollster knows, the way a question is phrased can often determine
the answer.
Editorial:
That's the spirit
06/03/2005 Courier-Journal (Louisville)
Maybe Kentucky Commerce Secretary Jim Host really is serious about this
"unbridled spirit" stuff.
Task
Force Considers Massive Arena
06/02/2005 Courier-Journal (Louisville)
When it comes to a new basketball arena in Louisville, state Commerce
Secretary Jim Host is thinking big -- at least 30,000 seats big.
Task
Force Seeks Operator for New Louisville Arena
06/01/2005 Courier-Journal (Louisville)
WANTED: Large corporation to operate a new multipurpose arena in Louisville,
Ky., without costing taxpayers a king's ransom. Must be willing to schedule
all events around University of Louisville basketball games.
Money
is U of L's Top Issue on Arena
05/30/2005 Courier-Journal (Louisville)
This season, the University of Louisville men's basketball team generated
$17 million from Freedom Hall - twice as much as it did four years ago.
Louisville
Arena Task Force Challenged to ‘Think Big’ and Be Open-Minded
As It Begins Its Work
Release Date 5/23/2005
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The blue-ribbon Task Force appointed by Governor
Ernie Fletcher to make a recommendation on a new arena for Louisville
was told to “think big” at its first meeting yesterday at
the Frazier Arms Center in downtown Louisville.
Louisville
Arena Task Force to Hold First Meeting
Release Date 5/19/2005
Potential
Arena Sites Identified
Several Louisville locations have been identified as potential sites
for the new arena.
Click here to view
a slide presentation of potential sites. (Some slides contain large
images and may take a while to load.)
