$250 million ‘Sports Entertainment District’ proposed next to Slugger Field

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – Mayor Craig Greenberg and the owners of the Louisville Bats are hoping to hit a home run. But it has nothing to do with baseball.

“Diamond Baseball Holdings is talking about making the biggest investment that downtown Louisville has seen in over a decade,” Greenberg said.

The current owners of the Louisville Bats, Diamond Baseball Holdings, are in conversations with the city that could turn into a $250 million development. The proposed Louisville Sports Entertainment District is part of ongoing revitalization efforts to create vibrant connections between downtown Louisville neighborhoods including Butchertown, NuLu, and Waterfront Park.

“This exciting development represents our commitment to enhancing the quality of life for our residents and visitors,” said Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg. “We are being proactive about developing surface lots across our downtown; these type of lots are ripe for development that benefits our city as a whole and its residents. We look forward to continuing to work with Machete Group and Diamond Baseball Holdings to hopefully make this District a reality.”

With over 500,000 square feet of mixed-use development, possibilities include hundreds of apartments, a hotel, bars, restaurants and shops. There are no blueprints yet, there is no funding.

“The opportunity to contribute to the ongoing revitalization efforts in downtown Louisville and create a hub of energy and excitement surrounding the home of the Bats is a game-changer for our organization and our fans,” said Pat Battle and Peter Freund, Executive Chairman and CEO, respectively, of DBH, owner of the Bats. “We’re thrilled to double down on the commitment we made to the Louisville community more than a year ago when we acquired the Bats and look forward to further enhancing the overall experience for everyone who visits Slugger Field.”

The development would generate jobs and boost local business, according to a release.

”We are confident that this project is going to benefit the city and the state,” Greenberg said. “It’s in the early stages. This project will not happen without the support of the city, without the support of the state in the form of various incentives that we are just now beginning to discuss.”

If all goes well, groundbreaking for the “Louisville Sports Entertainment District” is predicted to be a year away.

Renderings of the proposed Louisville Sports Entertainment District are attached below

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