LOUISVILLE, KY (September 21, 2009) – The Louisville Arena Authority (LAA) today will announce that it has named two additional 10-year Cornerstone Partners in Hilliard Lyons and Stock Yards Bank & Trust, comprising the “Financial Category,” as well as a five-year sponsorship with Kentucky Employers’ Mutual Insurance (KEMI). The new relationships were secured by the Louisville Arena Sports and Entertainment Properties (LASEP), the locally based entity of Learfield Sports which oversees the arena’s advertising and sponsorship sales initiatives. The total value of the three sponsorships is $8,602,021, with $7,451,523 attributed to the Financial Category and $1,150,498 attributed to KEMI.
Hilliard Lyons, one of Kentucky’s leading corporate citizens and now one of the newest Cornerstone Partners, will have naming rights to the Suite Mezzanine Level and advertising rights at several locations, including the arena’s center-hung scoreboard, through 2020. Hilliard Lyons also handled the taxable bond placement for the Arena Authority, which helped secure the bond issue and enabled the arena to be constructed.
Stock Yards Bank & Trust also has committed to be a 10-year Cornerstone Partner, in addition to serving as the arena’s “Official Banking Partner.” It will handle all LAA banking accounts, as well as receive partner benefits such as Naming Rights to the Junior Suites, signage inside the arena and additional visibility through the in-house messaging opportunities.
“These unique partnerships are strong indicators of how corporations and businesses are making strides in aligning themselves with the arena and becoming part of its success for years to come,” said Jim Host, Chair of the Louisville Arena Authority, which landed its first Cornerstone Partner when Norton Healthcare announced its 10-year involvement in March. “We are well on the way to achieving our goal of finding the right corporate partners for what will be an exceptional arena and a key ingredient of this downtown community for years to come. There’s no question the excitement is building, and we’re certainly thrilled to have Hilliard Lyons, Stock Yards Bank & Trust and KEMI on board.”
“Hilliard Lyons is truly excited to be a Cornerstone Partner in the new Louisville arena. We view this commitment as an investment in the growth of our community. Without question, this facility will be an important catalyst for Louisville’s economic development in the future.” said James R. Allen, CEO of Hilliard Lyons.
Commenting on the announcement, David P. Heintzman, Chairman & CEO of Stock Yards Bank & Trust, said, “We are pleased and honored to become the banking partner for the arena, which we believe will quickly emerge as the city’s newest landmark and a symbol of Louisville’s thriving downtown area. This is a huge move for Stock Yards Bank, and once we understood the significance of this project to the community, our decision was easy. We know what’s good for Louisville will be good for Stock Yards Bank. The time is right for strong corporate citizens such as Stock Yards Bank to step up to meet the challenge of moving this city toward an even more prosperous future. Our support also represents a large “thank you” to a community that, for over 100 years, has helped us grow and made it possible for us now to express our gratitude in a meaningful and tangible way.”
KEMI’s five-year sponsorship provides for in-arena signage, as well as the opportunity to have the “KEMI Downtown Arena Directory” in the main lobby of the arena.
“As a competitive workers’ compensation insurance company serving over 22,000 Kentucky policyholders and their employees, KEMI is excited to partner with the LAA to support the opportunities the arena brings to Louisville and the Commonwealth while increasing our exposure in the region,” said Roger Fries, President & CEO of KEMI.
For more information, please visit www.arenaauthority.com.