The new manager of the KFC YUM! Center will likely be a familiar partner.The Arena Authority’s executive committee has chosen Los Angeles’s AEG Worldwide to enter into contract negotiations and replace the Kentucky State Fair Board. The company already books events in the center, which Arena Authority Chairman Larry Hayes said was a major reason for its selection.The Arena Authority chose to disconnect from the state fair board earlier this year after a consulting firm said the state’s operating costs were high.Hayes would not discuss details of the contract, but he said the negotiations would be in the best interesting the community and AEG will offer certain guarantees for its success.“The financial terms which we’re not ready to disclose yet, they’re also very compelling," Hayes said.AEG will likely recruit many of the staff members, approximately 43, that helped manage the arena under the fair board.“They’re very familiar with the staff there. That was one of the compelling pieces to their presentation. They fully intend to recruit existing employees and offer them career paths," he said.Details of the contract are expected to be announced in the next few weeks, Hayes said.“They have a history in the building. We have a contract with them on the marketing side and they’ve been very successful so far in bringing events into the building.”
