A new Cardinal logo has been added to the KFC Yum! Center, going up Tuesday night, clearly identifying the new basketball palace as the new home for University of Louisville basketball.

The logo, approximately 10 x 10 feet in diameter, is positioned on the east side of the arena. The logo is the first thing motorists see entering the city on the George Rogers Clark bridge.

The location is symbolic, leaving no doubt which university owns Louisville.

Meanwhile, work continues just down the block on Main Street on the Iron Quarter block which includes the nation’s largest collection of buildings with cast iron facades. Todd Blue, president of Cobalt Ventures, has proposed plans for a $50 million development.

Blue’s project would include  a 12- to 14-story office tower with 110,000 square feet; a 20,000-square-foot retail center featuring upscale boutique stores, restaurants, cafes and coffee shops; and a two-level, 500-space parking garage with access from First or Main streets.

“But for the arena, I would not be doing this project,” Blue told Business First. “It’s a pivotal block, and it’s well located.”

The only obstacle for Blue, and it’s significant, is getting past the objections of preservationists who want to preserve some dilapidated structures on the block.

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By Charlie Springer

Charlie Springer is a former Louisville editor and sportswriter, a public affairs consultant, a UofL grad and longtime fan.

7 thoughts on “New U of L branding for Louisville’s KFC Yum! Center”
  1. I fear the only way something gets done soon is if one or more of the buildings collapse… then we lose the facades as well. Hopefully somesort of agreement is reached before the buildings meet a similar fate as the building in Butchertown.

  2. I understand those plans are still very much in the works. One of those buildings is going to collapse soon, just like the one the other day in Butchertown. Just a matter of time.

  3. Unfortunately Mr. Blue has not done anything with his property. All the work being done on that block is by other individuals. The part of the block he owns is still mired in controversy. Blue wants to raze the buildings only keeping the facades, claiming safety concerns, while preservationists insist he use the entire structures. I don’t see anything happening anytime soon regarding his buildings. It is encouraging however that the buildings closest to the arena on that block will be renovated.

  4. I like the idea of eventually having 500 parking spots right next the the KFC YUM! arena. I probably won’t like the cost of event parking, though.

  5. Really happy to see that $50 million development going up right next to the Yum Center. It couldn’t come at a better time and should be a real boost for sales tax collections to help make the payments for the arena construction. We are fortunate to have private developers like Todd Blue who recognize an opportunity when they see one and are willing to put their own money behind the project. That’s what it’s going to take to get us out of this recession, private investment, not government handouts and more federal debt.

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