♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ HELLO AND WELCOME TO "INSIDE LOUISVILLE" WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKE UP KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

I'M YOUR HOST KELSEY STARKS AND THIS WEEK WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT SPORTS IN LOUISVILLE.

FROM BASKETBALL TO BMX, FROM FENCING TO THE FINISH LINE OF CROSS-COUNTRY TOURNAMENTS, THE LOUISVILLE SPORTS COMMISSION WILL TELL YOU, LOUISVILLE KNOWS SPORTS.

THIS YEAR WE GEAR UP FOR THE HISTORIC INTERSECTION OF TWO MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS, THE 150th RUNNING OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY AND THE P.G.A.

CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT, BOTH COMING TO LOUISVILLE JUST WITHIN WEEKS OF EACH OTHER THIS MAY.

THE C.E.O.S OF BOTH THOSE ORGANIZATIONS SPOKE ABOUT THE IMPACT AT THE ANNUAL MEETING FOR GREATER LOUISVILLE, INC.

EARLIER THIS YEAR.

TAKE A LOOK.

LOUISVILLE SHOWS UP AND THEY DO EVERY TIME.

WE SET RECORDS FOR TICKET SALES, FOR HOSPITALITY SALES, AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE EVER BEEN HERE IN MAY.

WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SHARE THE STAGE WITH CHURCHILL DOWNS, BUT EXCITED TO DO THAT.

TO BE PART OF THIS HISTORIC YEAR FOR CHURCHILL DOWNS FOR THIS CITY AND BE PART OF IT IS AMAZING.

AND WE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE COMING BACK BECAUSE THE CITY DESERVES IT.

YOU HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE HOSTS.

INCREDIBLE PARTNERS.

AND IT ONLY GETS BETTER EVERY YEAR.

I THINK FOR THIS YEAR, WE HAVE THE PAST, YOU KNOW, WE DO THIS EVERY YEAR SO WE HAVE THE PAST TO LOOK AT IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS, 400 TO 500 MILLION OF ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.

THE DRIVING OF SO MANY LOCAL BUSINESSES.

BUT REALLY IT'S MORE OF A CULTURAL DRIVER.

I THINK IT AFFECTS EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY AND I THINK ALL OF YOU SHOULD FASTEN YOUR SEATBELTS BECAUSE 150 IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT.

IT IS GOING TO TAKE THAT ONE STEP BEYOND AND THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD THINK AND EXPECT.

>> YOU HEARD IT, FASTEN YOUR SEATBELTS, IT IS GOING TO BE A BIG REAR AND GREG FONT GREG FANTE IS IS, GEARING UP FOR THE P.G.A.

AND DERBY IN ONE MONTH, A SPORTS LOVER'S DREAM.

>> ABSOLUTELY, KELSEY AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME.

>> OF COURSE.

>> CERTAINLY ANY TIME THAT YOU CAN HAVE TWO INTERNATIONAL EVENTS OF THIS MAGNITUDE, AND WE CAN PUT LOUISVILLE IN THE GLOBAL SPOTLIGHT, THE WAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT OUR COMMUNITY, IT'S A SPECIAL TIME FOR EVERYBODY.

IT'S GREAT FOR THE LOCAL TOURISM INDUSTRY.

IT'S JUST GREAT FOR THE IMAGE AND THE BRAND OF LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY.

I THINK THAT WE ARE ABLE TO TELL OUR STORY THROUGH A NARRATIVE THAT MOST CITIES WE ARE THE ENVY OF.

IT'S EXCITING TO HAVE BOTH EVENTS BACK TO BACK AND UNPRECEDENTED FOR US AS A COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE HOSTED MANY P.G.A.

CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THE RYDER CUP AND HOSTED BREEDERS' CUPS AND OBVIOUSLY THE KENTUCKY DERBY FOR 150 YEARS THIS YEAR.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT NEVER HAVE WE HAD THIS SO CLOSE TOGETHER.

SO LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY IS THE PLACE TO BE THE MONTH OF MAY.

COME HERE, SET UP CHAMP AND ENJOY THE RIDE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THIS IS WHAT THE LOUISVILLE SPORTS COMMISSION IS ALL ABOUT, RIGHT?

FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOWER, EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS YOU ALL DO.

IT'S RECRUITING EVENTS LIKE THIS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT IS PART OF OUR MISSION TO RECRUIT INBOUND SPORTS EVENTS THAT HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY AND WE ARE JUST A BLESSED ORGANIZATION TO HAVE THE FOLKS OVER ON CENTRAL AVENUE AT CHURCHILL DOWNS TO HAVE BEEN PRODUCING ONE OF THE LARGEST EVENTS GLOBALLY EVERY YEAR SO WE LEAN INTO THAT.

WHEN WE GO TO RECRUIT AN IRON MAN TRIATHLON OR USA GYMNASTICS CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT OR A USA CYCLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, YOU KNOW, WE ARE ABLE TO TELL THOSE ORGANIZERS THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN THE SPORTS TOURISM INDUSTRY LONGER THAN ANY OTHER COMMUNITY IN AMERICA.

AND WE, OUR COMMUNITY, IT'S WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF WHO WE ARE AS LOUISVILLIANS TO ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET AND TO SHOW THEIR PARTICIPANTS, ALL OF THEIR OFFICIALS, THEIR FANS, A FABULOUS TIME IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THERE IS A LOT FOR US TO BE PROUD OF HERE.

>> OF COURSE.

WE CAN TELL YOUR BACKGROUND IS IN TOURISM.

YOU ARE ROUNDING OUT YOUR FIRST YEAR HERE AS HEAD OF THE SPORTS COMMISSION, BUT YOUR BACKGROUND IS IN TOURISM.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I STARTED IN 1984 FOR THE A.J.

SNEADER COMPANY AT THE OLD EXECUTIVE HOTEL AND RECRUITING SPORTING EVENTS ALL THE WAY BACK IN THOSE DAYS.

I WORKED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE CLOSELY TO HOST THE INBOUND TEAMS THAT USED TO PLAY ACROSS THE STREET AT FREEDOM HALL AND THE FAIRGROUNDS AT THE FOOTBALL STADIUM FOR THE INBOUND FOOTBALL TEAMS.

I HAVE SPENT MY ENTIRE LIFE PROMOTING LOUISVILLE AND BRINGING SPORTING EVENTS TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAVE POSITIVE I AM FACT.

>> DURING ALL THAT TIME, YOU MUST HAVE SEEN A LOT OF PROGRESS, CHANGE, AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES OR ADVANCEMENTS YOU HAVE SEEN DURING YOUR CAREER?

>> WOW.

I MEAN IT HAS SO CHANGED, EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED FROM IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.

WHEN I STARTED AT THE EXECUTIVE INN, THERE WERE NO SPORTS COLLISION THERE WERE NO SPORTS COMMISSIONS IN AMERICA AND NOW EVERY MAJOR CITY IN THE COUNTRY HAS A SPORTS COMMISSION FOCUSED ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT MARKET SEGMENT.

IT IS THE FASTEST GROWING MARKET SEGMENT, ONE OF THE LEADING DRIVERS OF TOURISM FOR OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN LOUISVILLE ANNUALLY, ON THE NUMBER OF EVENTS THAT WE HELD BETWEEN US AND LOUISVILLE TOURISM AND ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, FACILITIES, UNIVERSITIES, IT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST DRIVERS OF INBOUND TRAVEL FOR LOUISVILLE.

>> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE, TOO, WHAT KIND OF EVENTS ARE ACTUALLY HOSTED HERE.

TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE MOST RECENT.

SOME REALLY BIG NAMES.

>> SURE, WE JUST WRAPPED UP USA GYMNASTICS WINTER CUP AND IT IS THE START OF THE ROAD TO THE PARIS OLYMPICS AND WE HAD FUTURE OLYMPIANS VYING TO MAKE THE U.S. NATIONAL TEAM THAT JUST WRAPPED UP.

WE JUST FINISHED USA CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS.

WE HAVE A LONG LINEAGE OF HOSTING CYCLE LACROSSE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.

HOSTED THE ELITE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ON RIVER ROAD BACK IN 2013.

USA TRACK AND FIELD IS NOW A REGULAR CLIENT OF OURS BECAUSE OF THE NEW INDOOR TRACK AND I KNOW YOU INTERVIEWED SADIQUI ON THAT STORY AND TO HAVE A FACILITY THAT IS WORLD CLASS IN THE RUSSELL NEIGHBORHOOD IS TERRIFIC.

WE HAVE USA FENCING COMING BACK THIS FALL AND THAT WILL BE FRESH OFF OF THE OLYMPICS.

SO WE WILL HAVE OLYMPIANS THAT WILL COMPETE THERE.

BMX, AT THE TOM SAWYER STATE PARK.

SO IT IS JUST A PLETHORA OF NATIONAL GOVERNING BODIES.

WE HAVE IRON MAN COMING BACK FOR 70.3.

I KNOW YOU INTERVIEWED JOHN AND SO WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE THAT LIFESTYLE BRAND BACK IN OUR COMMUNITY THIS SUMMER AND, YOU KNOW, WE ARE JUST ALWAYS OUT THERE POUNDING THE PAVEMENT, FINDING NEW OPPORTUNITIES, JUST TO MAKE LOUISVILLE GREAT SPORTS COMMUNITY.

>> LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE FACILITIES.

YOU MENTIONED WE HAVE SOME GREAT SPORTS FACILITIESES HERE IN TOWN.

HOW DO WE COMPARE TO OTHER CITIES AND WHAT IS OUR COMPETITION?

>> WELL, I MEAN COMPETITION REALLY DOES COME FROM TWO FACTORS.

HAVING THE RIGHT FACILITY AND HAVING THE PRIET FUNDING AND SO WE FIND OURSELVES COMPETING A LOT WITH CITIES LIKE MILWAUKEE, COLUMBUS, OHIO, INDY, SPITSBURG, SO-- PITTSBURGH, A LOT OF CITIES SIMILAR TO LOUISVILLE BUT IT COMES DOWN TO THE VENUES THAT YOU HAVE.

FOR US, WE HAVE STARTING WITH THE KENTUCKY EXPOSITION CENTER, THE SIXTH LARGEST PUBLIC FACILITY IN THE COUNTRY.

A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T REALIZE THE AMOUNT OF SPORTING EVENTS THAT WE HELP PRODUCE IN THAT FACILITY, THE LARGEST WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT ON PLANET EARTH WILL TAKE PLACE THERE THIS SUMMER WITH OVER 100 BASKETBALL COURTS AND ABOUT 5,000 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAMS WILL DESCEND ON LOUISVILLE FOR THE BETTER PART OF THE MONTH OF JULY.

THAT'S A FABULOUS VENUE FOR US.

THE WYNNE FAMILY STADIUM HAS BEEN A GAME CHANGER ALLOWING US TO HOST THE MEN'S SOCCER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS PAST DECEMBER; FIRST TIME EVER.

AND SO THAT WAS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE AND THE FOLKS AT A.S.M.

GLOBAL THAT MANAGE THE SOCCER FACILITY.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE YUM CENTER CONTINUES TO JUST DELIVER.

WE HAVE THE NCAA WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS COMING IN DECEMBER FOR THE SECOND TIME TO THE CENTER.

HAVING WORLD CLASS FACILITIES, THAT OPENS THE CONVERSATION WITH THE RIGHTS HOLDERS, THE FOLKS WHO OWN THESE EVENTS, TO BE ABLE TO REALLY TELL THEM WHY THEY SHOULD BE IN LOUISVILLE.

ONCE WE HAVE THE FACILITY AND WE GET PEOPLE HERE, I MEAN LOUISVILLE HAS ITS VIBE.

WE'VE GOT A GREAT CULINARY SCENE THAT I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM OUT OF MARKET REALLY REALIZE HOW FABULOUS IT IS.

YOU LAYER ON THE BOURBON AND BOURBON EXPERIENCES WE HAVE IN DOWNTOWN AND THE SURROUNDING REGION.

SO WHEN YOU PULL ALL OF THAT TOGETHER, OUR CENTRAL LOCATION, LOUISVILLE IS A GREAT PLACE TO COME.

WE HAVE THE ICONIC SPORTS MUSEUMS THAT YOU CAN ONLY GET IN LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY WITH SLUGGER, CHURCHILL DOWNS, THE ALI CENTER.

THOSE ARE, IN AND OF THEMSELVES, ICONIC SPORTS BRANDS THAT WE LEAN INTO AND YOU CAN ONLY GET HERE AND WHEN THESE DECISION MAKERS ARE LOOKING FOR WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO PLACE THEIR EVENTS, FIRST YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE FIELD OF PLAY RIGHT, BUT THEN WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE AND AUTHENTIC WHEN FOLKS AREN'T COMPETING WHEN THEY'RE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND LOUISVILLE, WE HAVE THAT DIALED.

>> WHERE THE SPORTS FANS WANT TO GO.

>> YOU BETCHA.

>> AND THAT'S GOOD FOR EVERYBODY IN LOUISVILLE, OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE IT'S TOURISM DOLLARS.

>> YES.

ABSOLUTELY.

I LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE THAT WE WORK IN A VERY CLEAN INDUSTRY THAT IS GREAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT'S PEOPLE BRINGING DOLLARS FROM OUTSIDE OF LOUISVILLE AND THEY'RE SPENDING THEM HERE IN LOUISVILLE.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE YOU AND I GOING OUT AND HAVING DINNER BECAUSE THOSE ARE RECIRCULATED DOLLARS.

THIS IS WHERE WE GET ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT DESCEND UPON LOUISVILLE AND SPEND ALL OF THE MONEY THAT THEY'VE EARNED IN THEIR HOMETOWNS, AND THEY LEAVE IT BEHIND.

AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT IT SUPPORTS, THE WAIT STAFFS, BELL STAFFS, HOUSEKEEPERS AND FRONT DESK CLERKS AND RESTAURANT STAFF, YOU KNOW, WAITERS, WAITRESSES.

SO IT'S A GREAT INDUSTRY AND WHEN YOU BRING A BIG EVENT IN TOWN AND YOU GET TO STEP BACK AND JUST WATCH THE PEOPLE WALKING IN DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE, OR WHEREVER THE VENUE IS, AND YOU SEE THEM FILL IN YOUR HOTEL ROOMS AND FILL IN THE RESTAURANTS AND I LOVE WHEN I HAVE TO GO TO A RESTAURANT AND WAIT ON A WEDNESDAY NIGHT BECAUSE THERE IS A BIG BASKETBALL TORN TOURNAMENT IN TOWN.

IT MAKES YOU FEEL GREAT ABOUT THE WORK YOU ARE DOING.

>> YEAH.

IS THERE AN EVENT THAT-- WHAT WOULD BE A BIG GET FOR YOU?

LIKE IS IS THERE SOMETHING OUT THERE THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO GET HERE?

>> WE HAVE BEEN DRIVEN, AS AN ORGANIZATION, AND I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN DRIVEN FOR A LONG TIME, TO GET AN OLYMPIC TRIALS TO COME TO LOUISVILLE.

IT'S THE CLOSEST WE WILL EVER GET TO THE OLYMPICS.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO HOST THE SUMMER OR THE WINTER OLYMPICS IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

SO THAT IS ONE THAT WE CONTINUE TO BUILD OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS.

BUT THEY'RE HARD MUCH AND THE COMPETITION IS VERY DIFFICULT, AND THOSE COMMAND A LOT OF MONEY TO MAKE HAPPEN.

SO, ABOUT THE, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN CLOSE A COUPLE TIMES.

WE ALMOST GOT THE U.S.

SWIM TRIALS TO COME TO LOUISVILLE FROM OMAHA TO HAPPEN AT THE YUM CENTER BUT WE HAD A COUPLE OF STUMBLES THERE THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE THOAFER COME.

-- THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO OVERCUP.

OLYMPIC TRIALS ARE HUGE.

ANY TIME WE CAN HOST AN INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

WE HAVE HOSTED ABOUT FOUR UCI CYCLING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS IN CYCLE LACROSSE AND BMX, BOTH.

AND THOSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE SPECIAL WHEN WE GET THOSE TO COME AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US, THE SPORTS COMMISSION HELPED RAISE A LITTLE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS TO REVAMP TOM SAWYER PARK BMX FACILITY IT IS NOW A WORLD CLASS FACILITY TO THE OLYMPIC STANDARD.

WE COULD HOST OLYMPIC TRIALS THERE AND WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO GET A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN BMX TO COME TO EXAMPLE P. TOM SAWYER STATE PARK.

THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF EVENTS.

AND LET'S NOT FORGET THAT THE P.G.A., WHILE THEY'RE COMING, THEY'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE A HIGH VALUE TARGET FOR US.

AND WE HAVE-- THAT HAS CHANGED A LITTLE BIT WITH VALHALLA HAVING LOCAL OWNERSHIP, YOU KNOW, THAT IS ONE THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE P.G.A.

CHAMPIONSHIP COME BACK TO LOUISVILLE AFTER THIS RUN.

THEY HAVE BEEN IN LOUISVILLE SEVERAL TIMES AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER ONE THAT WOULD BE GREAT TO GET BACK.

WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE BREEDERS' CUP COME BACK TO LOUISVILLE INTO CHURCHILL DOWNS.

SO, YOU KNOW, THERE IS ALWAYS SOME HIGH VALUE TARGETS OUT THERE THAT WE ARE QUIETLY WORKING ON BEHIND THE SCENES.

WE DON'T LIKE TO GET AHEAD OF OURSELVES TOO MUCH.

>> SURE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY SAY THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION COULD BE AN NBA TEAM.

I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN TALK ABOUT THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

OBVIOUSLY YOU WOULD WELCOME THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN ANY TIME YOU CAN BE IN SPORT AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL FOR YOUR COMMUNITY, IT DOES THINGS, BRANDING WISE, FOR YOUR COMMUNITY THAT OTHER SPORTS DON'T DO.

AND SO FOR US, WHILE WE ARE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF RECRUITING PROFESSIONAL FRANCHISES, WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF SUPPORTING GROUPS OF PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANT TO DO THAT.

WE WERE VERY MUCH SUPPORTIVE OF THE OWNERSHIP GROUP OF LOU CITY SOCCER AND THE BUILDING OF THE NEW STADIUM AND HELPING THEM FIND THE RIGHT PARCEL AND DOING WORK TO BE SURE THAT THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL, WHICH REALLY LED US TO GETTING RACING, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL SPORTS FRANCHISE THAT WE HAVE IN LOUISVILLE IS WOMEN'S SOCCER WITH THE MWSL.

THE NBA WOULD BE VERY SIMILAR.

IF THERE IS A GROUP THAT IS WORKING TO BRING AN NBA PEOPLE TO LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO WELL IS WE CONVENE.

WE GET RIGHT PEOPLE AROUND THE TABLE AND WE HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

AND SO IF THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY, YOU KNOW, GETTING-- THIS WOULD TAKE THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

IT WOULD TAKE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

IT WOULD BE AN ENORMOUS LIFT.

THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE WOULD HAVE TO COME TO THE TABLE BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE CONTROL OF THE YUM CENTER DURING THE BASKETBALL SEASON.

SO IT'S ONE THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL HAVE TO DECIDE IF IT IS OF VALUE AND IMPORTANT AND DO WE HAVE THE RIGHT GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> YEAH, WELL THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES AND FOR MORE ON THAT, WHEN WE COME BACK, WE ARE GOING TO TALK TO LOCAL ATTORNEY J. BRUCE MILLER WHO HAS BEEN PULLING THE STRINGS ON THIS IDEA OF AN NBA FRANCHISE FOR QUITE SOMETIME.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ J. BRUCE MILLER IS THE FORMER COUNTY ATTORNEY IN JEFFERSON COUNTY WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO BRING THE NBA TO LOUISVILLE FOR SOME 40 YEARS NOW.

IN FACT, HE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT IT.

AIR BALL IS THE COMPLETE AND UNVARNISHED ACCOUNT OF LOUISVILLE'S 30-YEAR ODYSSEY TO ACQUIRE AN NBA FRANCHISE.

SO WE SAY WELCOME TO YOU, Mr. MILLER.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

NOW THIS BOOK CAME OUT IN 2004.

>> YES MA'AM.

>> NOW, HERE WE SIT 20 YEARS LATER... WHERE DO THINGS STAND ON THIS FRONT?

>> WELL, THERE IS STILL INTEREST , BUT LOUISVILLE STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT IT HAD AT THE TIME, AND THAT IS IT DOESN'T-- IT HAS A DIFFICULT TIME GROWING AND GROWING IN ITS EXPECTATIONS.

AND AS ELON MUSK'S GENERAL COUNSEL TOLD ME SOMETIME AGO, WHEN HE SENT ME A 1950 CENSUS, WHEN WE WERE BIGGER THAN ATLANTA GEORGIA BY 30,000 PEOPLE.

THE QUESTION WAS WHAT THE HELL EVER HAPPENED TO LOUISVILLE?

AND SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE WE FELL ASLEEP.

>> YEAH, AND THAT IS WHAT THE BOOK ABOUT.

IT IS THAT HISTORY.

IT IS NOT ONLY THE HISTORY OF THIS QUEST TO BRING THE NBA HERE.

IT IS THE HISTORY OF LOUISVILLE, THE HISTORY OF BASKETBALL.

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO RIGHT WRITE THIS BOOK?

>> WELL, THE FRUSTRATION OF BEING-- SO MANY OF THE OTHER CITIES THAT WE COMPETED WITH AND LOST, HAD NO BASKETBALL HERITAGE AT ALL.

MEMPHIS HADN'T GOT ANY, NEW ORLEANS, EVERY TEAM IN NEW ORLEANS HAS FAILED.

SAN ANTONIO... OR THE SALT LAKE CITY JAZZ WERE CALLED THE JAZZ BECAUSE THEY ORIGINATED IN NEW ORLEANS.

THE FRUSTRATION OF ALL OF THAT, I FELT LIKE, I GUESS I'M A COMMUNITY PERSON, NOT A LEADER, BUT I'M A-- AND I HAD THIS STORY AND I FELT LIKE IT NEEDED TO BE TOLD IN THE HOPES THAT IT MIGHT HELP LOUISVILLE UNDERSTAND IT'S FULLY CAPABLE OF DOING A LOT OF THINGS, BUT FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER, AND I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DEFINE IT IN MY MIND, WE HAVE NOT DONE IT.

SO THAT'S WHERE IT STANDS RIGHT NOW.

AND I HAVE TALKED WITH SOME OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL INTERESTED.

THEY'RE INTERESTED IN THE BEGINNING BECAUSE-- THEY CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE DON'T HAVE IT.

>> RIGHT.

WE HAVE THE ARENA.

>> WE HAVE THE ARENA.

WE HAVE THE INTEREST LEVEL.

AND PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF LOUISVILLE, WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT, CAN'T UNDERSTAND THE BASKETBALL HERITAGE HERE WITH NOT ONLY U.K. AND U U OF L BUT MURRAY AND MOREHEAD, EASTERN KENTUCKY, WESTERN KENTUCKY.

THEY'VE ALL HAD NATIONALLY KNOWN AND RECOGNIZED BASKETBALL TEAMS.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND YOU WOULD THINK THAT THE ULTIMATE WOULD BE HELPING IN RECRUITING BECAUSE IF WE HAD AN NBA TEAM HERE, THOSE COLLEGES WOULD HAVE NBA SCOUTS HERE ALL THE TIME INSTEAD OF HAVING TO FLY IN SPECIALLY.

THEY WOULD BE A PART OF THE OPERATION.

SO-- AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE BASKETBALL PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL INDUSTRY THAT I KNOW, AND I KNOW A LOT OF THEM, CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY LOUISVILLE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO IT.

>> YOU SAY THE INVESTORS WANT TO SEE LOUISVILLE READY FOR AN NBA.

WHAT DOES THAT CONSIST OF WHAT DOES LOUISVILLE NEED TO BE READY TO TAKE ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> IN THEIR MIND, IT NEEDS TO BE MARKETED BEYOND LOUISVILLE.

IT NEEDS TO BE-- THEY FELT THAT I NEED TO GO OVER TO LEXINGTON AND GET THE SUPPORT OF LEXINGTON PEOPLE.

WE NEED TO GO TO COVINGTON.

SO THEY DON'T-- THAT'S GETTING LOUISVILLE READY TO BE A MAJOR LEAGUE SPORTS CITY.

ARE THOSE PEOPLE ON BOARD AND WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO GET THEM ON BOARD, IF NOT?

>> THE GOVERNOR'S INTEREST, AND I HAVE-- I WOULD SAY TO YOU THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS-- AND I HAVE HAD LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE HE IS AINSOOD THE SECRETARY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO THE PROJECT BUT HE IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE REST OF KENTUCKY.

IT WOULD REQUIRE LOCAL LEADERSHIP FROM THE MAYOR, WHICH I HAVE NOT SEEN IN THIS INSTANCE, AND AS I JOKED TO YOU EARLIER, THERE IS A FELLOW WHO SAID THAT LOUISVILLE IS LIKE AN OVERGROWN MADISONVILLE.

BUT NATIONWIDE, IT'S VIEWED DIFFERENTLY.

AND SO WE HAVE-- AND WE STILL ARE.

IT'S NOT THAT WE'VE LOST THIS SEVERAL TIMES.

WE STILL ARE VIEWED THAT.

BUT BUT WE DON'T REALIZE-- WE DON'T REALIZE THAT OURSELVES.

>> DO YOU THINK IT COMES DOWN TO SAY DIVIDE ACROSS THE STATE AND THERE IS STILL THAT US VERSUS THEM MENTALITY IN THIS STATE?

>> I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY PART OF IT AND THAT'S RUN OF THE WITNESS-- THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS THE LAST GENTLEMAN WANT ME TO SPEND TIME IN LEXINGTON GETTING-- AND HE HAD A NAME THAT, A NICKNAME FOR THE TEAM IS THE KENTUCKY BOURBONS.

AND LET'S GET IT INVOLVED WITH KENTUCKY.

OR THE KENTUCKY THOROUGHBREDS.

IF YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING, YOU'VE GOT SHOW HOW YOU FIDELITY IN-- HOW YOU FIT IN AND THE ADVANTAGES YOU ARE GOING TO BRING WITH THE DECISION THAT THEY WOULD HELP MAKE.

WE HAVE HAD A HARD TIME DOING THAT.

WE ARE VERY PROUD OF OURSELVES.

WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB WITH THE GOLF AND OF COURSE THE KENTUCKY DERBY SPEAKS FOR ITSELF BUT WE ARE FAR MORE THAN THAT AND AND AN NBA FRANCHISE IN LOUISVILLE WOULD BE LIKE-- IT WOULD BE 4 IS HOME GAMES-- IT WOULD BE 41 HOME GAMES AND TELEVISED WORLDWIDE.

YOU WOULD SEE IT IN PARIS, FRANCE.

YOU WOULD SEE IT IN OBVIOUSLY LONDON AND CAIRO AND WHEREVER THE NBA'S INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION GOES.

AND WHAT THAT WOULD DO FOR LOUISVILLE, YOU CAN'T-- IT WOULD BE LIKE IN MY MIND, YOU CAN'T MEASURE WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN.

>> IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.

>> WITHOUT A DOUBT.

BECAUSE IT WOULD BE CALLED THE KENTUCKY BOURBONS.

IF YOU COMBINE THE BUSINESS THE CAPITAL POWER OF THE, AT THAT TIME.

SECOND ONLY TO AMERICA, ITSELF, THE U.S. ITSELF AND AHEAD OF JAPAN.

OF COURSE I'M TALKING ABOUT NEW YORK AND CHICAGO BUT WHEN YOU PUT THEM-- THE FINANCIAL-- AND WE COULD BE A PART OF THAT.

WHEN I FINISH THE BOOK, I WASN'T GOING TO DO THIS ANYMORE AND THERE WERE SOME FAB OWNERS NBA OWNERS WHO DIDN'T INSIST.

THEY GOT UPSET AND SAID YOU'VE GOT TO-- THIS MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL.

YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP GOING.

YOU GOT TO KEEP DOING IT.

>> AND YOU ARE STILL GOING.

AND YOU ARE STILL WORKING ON IT.

YOU STILL HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NBA COMMISSIONER.

ARE THEY STILL INTERESTED IN LOUISVILLE AS A POTENTIAL SPOT?

>> TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I THINK IF LOUISVILLE MADE-- HAD THE RIGHT OWNERSHIP INVOLVED, I THINK WE WOULD STAND AHEAD.

IF SALT LAKE CITY CAN HAVE A BASKETBALL TEAM, THERE IS NO EARTHLY REASON WE CAN'T HAVE ONE IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ YOU CAN WATCH THIS EPISODE AND ALL OF OUR ESPECIALLY SIDES AT KET.ORG/INSIDE LOUISVILLE.

PLUS, IF YOU WANT TO SEE MORE FROM BEHIND THE SCENES - CHECK OUT OUR INSTAGRAM.

YOU CAN FOLLOW AND SHARE AT KET IN LOU.

YOU CAN SOUND OUT WHAT YOU FEEL ABOUT SPORTS IN LOUISVILLE.

HOW WOULD AN NBA FRANCHISE CHANGE THIS CITY.

THANKS FOR SPENDING A LITTLE TIME GETTING TO KNOW LOUISVILLE THIS WEEK.

I HOPE WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR INSIDE LOUISVILLE... UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK!