Churchill Downs and Sports Illustrated enter naming rights partnership
Kentucky-based horse racetrack Churchill Downs agrees multi-year naming rights partnership with Sports Illustrated for new luxury dining experience.
Sports Illustrated has secured the naming rights for a new luxury dining experience at Churchill Downs racetrack.
The multi-year partnership will see Club SI, originally planned as the 1895 Club, debut for the opening night of Derby Week on April 27 2024.
The new elevated dining experience opens as part of the $200m Paddock Project renovation at Churchill Downs for the upcoming historic 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, set to take place on Saturday May 4 2024.
Club SI will feature iconic Sports Illustrated magazine covers and offer an immersive view of the brand-new Paddock Runway, providing guests with behind-the-scenes insight.
Each year, celebrity ambassadors will host guests at Club SI during the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks for premium raceday treatment.
Guests will also have access to the SI Enclosure for an exclusive front-row experience of the races.
The club will be open on premium race days and include tables to accommodate parties of two, four, six or eight to enjoy gourmet dining.
On the new venture, President of Churchill Downs Racetrack Mike Anderson shared: “As we approach the 150th Kentucky Derby, we are thrilled to partner with a brand as iconic as Sports Illustrated to offer guests an enhanced way to enjoy this incredible anniversary event.
“Sports Illustrated shares our goal of combining exciting sports moments with upscale entertainment, and Club SI will provide the perfect space to achieve this.”
SVP of Media Brands at Authentic Brands Group, owner of the Sports Illustrated brand, Michael Sherman commented: “It is an honor to bring Club SI to Churchill Downs Racetrack, which has such a rich history that we’ve showcased through the pages of Sports Illustrated for decades.
“Club SI will celebrate iconic elements of the brand, while hosting celebrity talent and offering guests gourmet cuisine and cocktails, a unique vantage point of the new Paddock, and a once-in-a-lifetime horse racing experience for Derby 150.”
The upcoming Kentucky Derby 150th anniversary has been at the forefront of Churchill Downs’ mind for months, with CEO William Carstanjen discussing the celebratory renovations back in October 2023.
Churchill Downs also recently partnered with British Jack Club and Ascot Racecourse.
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