Discover Why Sport Event Planners Choose Kentucky Venues

We get it.

An exposition or convention center might not be your first thought for hosting a sporting event—but once you experience what’s inside our doors, you’ll see why Kentucky Venues stands out as a premier destination for sports. 

The Kentucky Exposition Center and the Kentucky International Convention Center are known for much more than trade shows and meetings. Under our roofs, the possibilities for hosting world-class sports are endless. Did you know that just last year, we hosted 69 sporting events with 1.5 million attendees?

Conveniently located just minutes from the airport, the Kentucky Exposition Center offers two exceptional arenas, each ready to transform for your event. At the heart of this venue is the legendary Freedom Hall, a 39,000-square-foot arena with seating for up to 18,200 spectators. Since opening in 1956, Freedom Hall has been an icon of sports and entertainment, hosting historic moments like Muhammad Ali’s early professional fights, NCAA Final Fours, and unforgettable concerts by Elvis. For decades, it was the proud home of the University of Louisville Men’s Basketball team. 

Today, Freedom Hall continues to draw top-tier events, from from basketball and volleyball tournaments, to horse shows, motorsports and more. Freedom Hall remains an ideal location for high-energy sports and entertainment with 34 private suites, eight event rooms, a state-of-the-art center-hung screen, and concourse TVs. It’s even the home of the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame! 

If you’re looking for a slightly more intimate setting, Broadbent Arena offers nearly 6,600 seats and provides a blank canvas that can be tailored to your needs. This versatile space was once home to two ice hockey teams and now hosts boxing matches, basketball games, motorsports, and beyond, making it a perfect choice for events that demand flexibility and impact. 

Why stop at arenas? 

The Kentucky Exposition Center is more than just two arenas. We can host anything from expansive tournaments to specialized events with an additional 962,000 square feet of flexible exhibit space. Did we forget to mention hundreds of acres at your disposal (comprised of contiguous paved and grass space)?

If you’re looking for proximity to Louisville’s largest hotels, restaurants, and entertainment, the Kentucky International Convention Center is ready to welcome your guests. Situated in the heart of downtown Louisville, this newly renovated facility offers more than 200,000 square feet of Class A exhibit space, seamlessly blending modern amenities with flexible layouts, including portable stadium-style seating for up to 2,000 spectators. The Kentucky International Convention Center has hosted prestigious competitions such as the USA Gymnastics Winter Classic and International Volleyball Tournaments, as well as numerous other sports events including cheerleading, dance, and roller derby.

The venue often collaborates with the Kentucky Exposition Center to support larger events like volleyball and basketball tournaments. 

At both of our facilities, Kentucky Venues offers the support, flexibility, and infrastructure needed to transform exhibit halls into world-class sports destinations. Whether you need an arena for a basketball tournament, a hall for gymnastics or cheerleading, or expansive floors for archery or martial arts, our team brings experience and dedication to help you create a memorable event. At Kentucky Venues, we’re ready to welcome your athletes and fans in spaces that were designed for greatness.

Submit your RFP for Kentucky Venues emails at sales@kyvenues.com or give us a call at 502-367-5150