Yum! to pay $13.5 million to name downtown arena

I still think the "KFC Bucket" Arena would have been the no brainer marketing idea. For KFC the bucket of chicken is their iconic symbol. We already have the basketball lingo of "put it in the bucket". Glad it has a name by a local company but Yum Arena? Really?

At least it's easy to spell.

Of course, it's getting savaged on the web. Too many "word plays." And I suspect locals will call it The Bucket" anyway. Yaknow, how we all say "Ring Road" for that monstrosity of a roadway at KFEC? Isn't it truly named "Avenue of Champions"? I was really hoping that perhaps UPS would step up. Their competition has the naming rights in Memphis, yes?

Of course, it's getting savaged on the web. Too many "word plays." And I suspect locals will call it The Bucket" anyway. Yaknow, how we all say "Ring Road" for that monstrosity of a roadway at KFEC? Isn't it truly named "Avenue of Champions"? I was really hoping that perhaps UPS would step up. Their competition has the naming rights in Memphis, yes?

Yeah but they have an NBA team in Memphis, we dont.

Only the grilled one!!! That is why it is "healthy"

Nope, that's not Atkins. You can have all the fried you want as long as you don't have any carbs. Personally I don't think Atkins is a good idea, and this is a good example as to why.

Low Carb (not just Atkins - I have some nits to pick with that one) does not allow breading (which is carbs), and if you truely read the low carb literature, you will see that it is not all steak and cheese. I use it to keep my blood sugar in line and I eat pretty good!!.

Of course, it's getting savaged on the web. Too many "word plays." And I suspect locals will call it The Bucket" anyway. Yaknow, how we all say "Ring Road" for that monstrosity of a roadway at KFEC? Isn't it truly named "Avenue of Champions"? I was really hoping that perhaps UPS would step up. Their competition has the naming rights in Memphis, yes?

Yeah but they have an NBA team in Memphis, we dont.

That, and Fex-Ex's corporate headquarters are in Memphis, while UPS's headquarters are in Atlanta.

Well, everyone has an opinion...but YUM! had the money.

Wasn't the KFC Bucket first proposed a few years back when there was discussion of a pro team coming, and a new arena being built?

Wasn't the KFC Bucket first proposed a few years back when there was discussion of a pro team coming, and a new arena being built?

Yep.

I can understand the frustration with this choice but frankly who else did people think was going to put their name on the arena ? I mean someone had to.do it and in this economy I didn't see a lot of likely candidates lining up.

I had even money on Brown Forman
20 to 1 on UPS
15 to 1 on YUM
10 to 1 on Frazier

But hey....I have my tickets in hand and cannot wait for basketball and also big name concerts to start heading our way

I can understand the frustration with this choice but frankly who else did people think was going to put their name on the arena ? I mean someone had to.do it and in this economy I didn't see a lot of likely candidates lining up.

I had even money on Brown Forman
20 to 1 on UPS
15 to 1 on YUM
10 to 1 on Frazier

But hey....I have my tickets in hand and cannot wait for basketball and also big name concerts to start heading our way

I had UPS off my Big Board from day one...they're still on shaky ground with the pilot contracts and all. Brown Foreman would have been a reach as well and probably wouldn't have been a great fit...Hard to market a product like hard liquor in an establishment where beer is King. Norton and Humana were both late round picks as well.

I'm ready for a few "Big Name" concerts to hit town as well...driving to Cincy or Indy (or even Nashville) is a pain in the butt, especially on a "school night". Hopefully the new arena will draw them in.

Arena officials said the other four companies in discussion for naming rights were out of town. I guess possibly you could consider UPS out of town since their headquarters is in Atlanta. Any ideas who the other four were? Ford, Kroger....?

I'm ready for a few "Big Name" concerts to hit town as well...driving to Cincy or Indy (or even Nashville) is a pain in the butt, especially on a "school night". Hopefully the new arena will draw them in.

Not to get totally off topic but who are the "big names" we have been missing? I always thought of Louisville as a fantastic music city. Jimmy Buffet, Springsteen, and U2 are the only big names that I can think of that never visit Louisville.

I'm a sucker for good tunes, who am I missing out on.

In the past few years and upcoming:
(not a fan of them all, just "big names")


Rolling Stones
AC/DC
Bon Jovi
B.B. King
Bob Dylan
Willie Nelson
DMB
Killers
Weezer
John Mayer
Nickelback
Kenny Chesney
Rascal Flatts
Sugarland
Neil Young
Taylor Swift
Sheryl Crow
Jo Bros

"JustinHammond

Not to get totally off topic but who are the "big names" we have been missing?

Music of course is to each persons preference :

Clapton
Allman Brothers - they played here in the mid 80s
Genesis
David Bowie
Alice in Chains- before Layne Staley suicide
Paul McCartney - played I believe in late 80s ( state fair )
Green Day
Phish
Buffet and The Dead played here only 1 time back in the 80s also
Elvis

"JustinHammond

Not to get totally off topic but who are the "big names" we have been missing?

Music of course is to each persons preference :

Clapton
Allman Brothers - they played here in the mid 80s
Genesis
David Bowie
Alice in Chains- before Layne Staley suicide
Paul McCartney - played I believe in late 80s ( state fair )
Green Day
Phish
Buffet and The Dead played here only 1 time back in the 80s also
Elvis

Just a few corrections (I am a huge music fan - I can't help myself) - The Allman Brothers have played at the Palace a number of times, but it's definitely been a few years. I was actually just talking to someone this past weekend about seeing them at the Palace the same night as Thunder in the mid 90's.

Same with phish - been a long while but they played the palace in 94 (I won't go back further than that! lol...)

Grateful Dead (again I won't go back too far) but they played Freedom Hall in 1989, Cardinal Stadium in 1990 and back to Freedom Hall in 1993.

OK - music geek out! But yes - hopefully they use the arena for some musical good!