Three more companies have signed on as corporate sponsors for the new Louisville arena under construction at Second and Main Streets.
They include the investment firm Hilliard Lyons, which signed a ten-year deal to be a "Cornerstone Partner" in the facility.Arena AuthorityChairman Jim Host says Hilliard Lyons was instrumental in helping obtain financing for the arena."We would not have the arena under construction today without them. And then for them to step up again to be a financial partner, and they will have the naming rights for the suites, which is really significant," Host said.Also signing on as a ten-year Cornerstone Partner is Stockyards Bank, which will also be the arena's official bank. Kentucky Employers Mutual Insurance is also on board with a five-year sponsorship.The total value of the three sponsorships is just over $8.6 million.Norton Healthcare became a Cornerstone Partner in March of this year.In other business, the authority approved an agreement with the Los Angeles-based agency AEG Facilities to bring concerts, family shows and other special events to the arena, which is scheduled to open in November of next year.The University of Louisville also announced Monday that the new arena will host first and second round games of the 2012 NCAA Division 1 men's basketball tournament. Lexington's Rupp Arena will do the same in 2013.
