Louisville Arena Named KFC Yum! Center

by Stephanie CrosbyThe downtown Louisville arena has been named the KFC Yum! Center. In a $13.4-million dollar, ten-year agreement with the Louisville Arena Authority, Yum Brands is the naming sponsor for the home of the University of Louisville’s basketball teams.Yum Chairman and CEO David Novak says it was a win-win situation for both parties.“Clearly, this is great for Louisville and the financing of this arena, but it’s also great for us because we’re going to get great name recognition here in the community," says Novak. "This is also going to be a place where you’re going to see some fantastic basketball in the regionals and there will be some national publicity. But the big news for us is that this just gets us more entwined in a community we really love.”The deal also grants Yum Brands the rights to sell KFC and Taco Bell products inside the arena, and Pizza Hut products during non-university-related events.Arena Authority Chairman Jim Host says they’ll start the process of changing the arena’s signage and logos today.The KFC Yum! Center is still on track for completion and opening in November.