Entertainment / Sports / Hotels

From new and renovated hotels - such as the Marriott, 21C, and the Galt House Hotels and Suites, to downtown’s rich arts and cultural attractions, including the new Muhammad Ali Center, the Kentucky International Convention Center, Fourth Street Live! and the planned multi-purpose arena at Second and Main Streets, combine to energize the vitality of downtown Louisville.

Entertainment

The 2004 opening of Fourth Street Live! ushered in a new level of entertainment in downtown Louisville. With over 3.5 million visitors per year, Fourth Street Live! and its restaurants, retail shopping and night spots, have created a daytime and evening destinations. From the Hard Rock Café and TGI Fridays, to the Makers Mark Bourbon House and Lounge, Fourth Street Live! attempts to provide something for everyone. Louisville's Fourth Street Live! was awarded the presitigious   Award of Excellence in 2005 by the Urban Land Institute.  

Hotels

The number and quality of hotel rooms in downtown Louisville has increased tremendously in the last two years. A new 600 room convention hotel, the Louisville Marriott has quickly become one of the flagships of the Marriott brand. The 1,300 rooms of the Galt House and Suites are being completely renovated, and a new glass enclosed Conservatory provides a dramatic river view spanning Fourth Street. The new Residence Inn on East Market Street has unveiled in downtown Louisville the next generation of extended stay hotel design and décor, providing a modern new look and up to date amenities. The 91 room 21C  Hotel and Museum is one of the most unusual and cutting edge boutique hotel concepts in the country, with its contemporary art gallery, hip hotel rooms with art-inspired decor, and the nationally acclaimed Proof on Main restaurant.  It has  created a buzz on West Main Street and well beyond.

Sports

The Downtown Development Corporation, on behalf of the Louisville Arena Authority, has completed the development of a set of urban design guidelines that will help shape the design of the new Louisville Arena and highlight ways to connect it the fabric of downtown Louisville.  The report is the result of a three month effort that included reviewing and visiting a number of other downtown arena projects, an intensive public input process, and analysis of the arena’s potential impacts led by a Alex Krieger, the nationally-recognized Professor of Urban Design at HarvardUniversity.  The urban design guidelines will provide a blueprint for the arena's exterior look and insure that it will maximize its impact on downtown.  A key element of this work was a two-day public forum on November 16th and 17th, designed to discuss these issues and provide an opportunity for input from the public.

For more information regarding this effort, visit  "Turning Large Spaces Into Great Places” .  For details view the The Arena Urban Design Program Executive Summary (1MB) or the Arena Urban Design Program Final Report (3.5MB).

Downtown sports facilities are effective activity generators and can play a major role in stimulating and supporting retail, restaurant and urban entertainment venues. The opening of Louisville Slugger Field, a Triple A baseball park incorporating a historic downtown train shed,  provides an excellent example of a beautifully designed sports facility that is playing a significant role in the revitalization of the East Main Street area.

The planned 22,000 seat multi-purpose Louisville Arena at Second and Main Streets, scheduled for completion in 2010, will serve as the home of the University of Louisville men’s and women’s basketball programs, other NCAA events, concerts, convention usage, and a myriad of local events.  The activity will create street life, fill hotel rooms and restaurants, and complement the nearby Convention Center, Fourth Street Live, Waterfront Park, the Kentucky Center for the Arts, and the Muhammad Ali Center.

Louisville’s Extreme Park  has quickly become one of the most acclaimed bike and skateboard facilities in the nation.  The Park includes 40,000 square feet of outdoor concrete skating surfaces, including a 24 foot full pike and a wooden vert ramp, and is open 24 hours a day.  It has become a favorite place for testing one’s athletic skills and a great people-watching venue for downtown.