The Bluegrass State has a sporting heritage few others can match, and planners looking to leverage this history into a grand group event will have a field day.
From amazing museums to scintillating sports spectacles, Kentucky stands ready to leave an unforgettable athletic impression on any group.
Louisville
Birthplace of the legendary Louisville Slugger bat and “The Greatest” boxer in history, Louisville’s sports scene is still thriving today, evidenced by the NCAA title snagged by the University of Louisville’s men’s hoops squad this past spring, with the Lady Cardinals taking second in the nation.
“Louisville embraces our rich sports history and invests in our sports future,” says Kat Gallagher, communications manager for the Louisville CVB. “A lot of people know we have the state-of-the-art KFC Yum! Center, Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, Freedom Hall and Jim Patterson Stadium, along with a handful of other facilities. What they may not realize is the versatility and options these facilities give us.”
The KFC Yum! Center is a perfect example of this dynamic flexibility. Planners can ponder renting the entire massive arena bowl, or choose from a number of additional spaces—ranging from intimate lounges to various private suites to spacious lobby areas. Active attendees might get a kick out of the All Purpose room, which includes a snazzy practice court for basketball fun.
Elsewhere, unique offerings round out the gamut of sporty sites. The Muhammad Ali Center is a one-of-a-kind venue spurred by six core principles expounded by the legendary pugilist. It also goes well beyond the sporting world in its offerings, with changing exhibits in 2013, for example, including displays on global culture and Motown. But those seeking inspiration from “The Greatest” will be rewarded as well, including an interactive exhibit providing the chance to shadow box with a virtual Ali.
Tours are popular at the Ali Center, and the venue also boasts a wealth of event spaces. For nonprofit groups, the facility even extends a 20 percent rental discount.
At the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, attendees can gather for a group pic alongside the world’s largest baseball bat, take a customized group tour, and even receive personalized Louisville Slugger bats branded with their name. Yet another legendary sports stop is the Kentucky Derby Museum at historic Churchill Downs. If you can’t make it for the famed annual horse race, the facility boasts about 10,000 square feet of flexible space for an event of your own. PageBreak
Lexington
The state’s second-largest city might be dubbed the “Horse Capital of the World,” but Lexington has much more than just ponies for groups to enjoy on its sporting slate.
“Lexington is a unique destination for sports fans regardless of their passion,” says Ilse Dehner, travel and events director for the U.S. Equestrian Federation, based in the city. “Basketball, baseball, equestrian and even running competitions have great event facilities in the region where they can watch athletes compete.”
Horse-themed sporting fun includes Keeneland, an iconic thoroughbred racetrack that served as a main shooting site for the 2003 blockbuster Seabiscuit due to its handsome and historic setting. The vibrant venue seems to have literally no end to its gamut of spaces, from intimate corporate suites with racetrack views to a historic barn and entertainment center with room for up to 500 for a post-race cocktail shindig.
And as home to the University of Kentucky, Lexington offers up plenty of big-time college spectator sports fun, particularly on the hard court. Its men’s basketball team has a famed legacy that includes winning the national title in 2012.
Yet another option is an outing to Whitaker Bank Ballpark to see the Lexington Legends—a minor-league affiliate of the Kansas City Royals—in action. The venue has all manner of group options, including two all-inclusive party areas, corporate chalet tents and a VIP party deck.
Bowling Green
Attendees with a need for speed should start racing for the city of Bowling Green in west-central Kentucky.
“Groups marvel at the sea of classic cars that can be seen in Bowling Green all throughout the automotive event season,” says Marissa Butler, marketing director for the Bowling Green Area CVB. “From the nostalgia of one of the nation’s oldest drag strips at Beech Bend Raceway to the National Corvette Museum’s state-of-the-art exhibits, Bowling Green celebrates the sport of speed.”
Beech Bend Raceway offers both drag racing and oval track competitions and is located on a 379-acre setting that includes an amusement park and campgrounds. At the Corvette Museum, the buzz is building over a Motorsports Park slated for launch in 2014 that will offer intensive performance-driving courses, which can be customized for groups.
“For the college fan, the latest improvements at WKU’s Houchens Industries/L.T. Smith Stadium and E.A. Diddle Arena include state-of-the-art skyboxes, additional parking and backed seating for the ultimate fandom experience,” Butler adds. “Additionally, the downtown Bowling Green Ballpark, home of the minor-league Bowling Green Hot Rods, offers affordable entertainment with plenty of group outing options including a Stadium Club, Party Deck and Home Run Grill.” PageBreak
Northern Kentucky
“After sitting in an exposition hall, visitors to Northern Kentucky can take in the horse races at Turfway Park in Florence,” says Linda Antus, president and CEO of the Cincinnati USA Regional Tourism Network, the DMO that covers both sides of the Ohio River, including Northern Kentucky. “There is live racing January through March, and many other events throughout the year. It is a beautiful spot for group events.”
Antus also recommends checking out the Florence Freedom, which she dubs “a minor-league baseball team with a tremendous fan base, a beautiful intimate ballpark, and always a fun outing for groups in the area.”
The Freedom is a professional Frontier League team playing their games at UC Health Stadium, where groups can host their own event, bolstered by private suites, affordable all-you-can-eat buffets and even the chance to step onto the field for batting practice.
Farther south in Sparta, Antus says, is one of the area’s most popular group attractions, the Kentucky Speedway, a NASCAR course that also boasts a driving course, speedway tours and event venues.
Yet another possibility is the Bank of Kentucky Center on the campus of Northern Kentucky University, a 10,000-seat arena playing host to NKU basketball games and other events.
Paducah
In Kentucky’s far-western realms, Paducah lies at the confluence of four rivers and is often heralded for its natural allure. But it’s a manmade wonder at the heart of its spectator sports fun.
“Brooks Stadium, a historic baseball park built in 1948, exudes Americana and is a masterpiece of preservation,” says Fowler Black, the Paducah CVB’s sales director.
Groups can take in hardball fun at Brooks, ranging from high school teams to Frontier League summer action to college tournaments, or rent out the field for an unforgettable company game of their own.
For something completely different, planners can take attendees out to Twin Oaks Lake, a designated water-skiing venue comprising 50 acres and a pair of lakes. The venue was created especially for the sport, and has hosted state and national championships in the past.
