KFC Yum Center

Louisville's downtown arena on the Ohio River

The KFC Yum Center (officially styled with an exclamation point after Yum, after the parent company Yum Brands) is the arena at 1 Arena Plaza on Main Street between Second and Third Streets in downtown Louisville, on the Ohio River waterfront. It is home to Louisville Cardinals men's and women's basketball and is the city's main stop for arena concerts, wrestling, UFC and family shows. It seats 22,090 for basketball. The best basketball seats are the lower midcourt sections 106 and 116, with 105, 107, 115 and 117 close behind; upstairs, the center sections 308 and 323 are the value pick.

The arena opened on October 10, 2010, and it has carried the same name since it opened: Yum Brands, the Louisville-based parent of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, bought the naming rights in a deal announced on April 19, 2010. Searchers often write it as "KFC Yum Center" or "Yum Center"; all refer to the same building.

How the 100, 200 terrace and 300 levels are laid out

Section numbers here come from the arena's own event seating maps, published on the KFC Yum Center site, and match the RateYourSeats section directory.

Floor and 100 level: sections 101–120

For basketball, courtside seats ring the floor in small numbered blocks. Behind them, the lower bowl runs from 101 to 120. Sections 104–108 line one sideline and 114–118 the other, with 106 and 116 at midcourt. The baselines are 120, 101 and 102 at one end and 110–112 at the other, with corner sections 103, 109, 113 and 119 between. The arena map shows entry portals cut into the sideline sections 105–108 and 115–118, so a few seats in those sections sit beside a portal opening.

Suites and premium boxes

Between the levels sit 71 suites, 62 four- and six-seat premium boxes and more than 2,000 sideline club seats, according to Louisville Athletics. Four party suites seat 32 each.

200 terrace: sections 209–212

Four terrace sections, 209 to 212, sit at one end of the building beyond the 300-level end seats. They are an unusual feature; they face the court from well behind the baseline.

300 level: sections 301–330

The upper bowl wraps the arena with 30 sections. Sections 308 and 323 are at midcourt, with 307, 309, 322 and 324 beside them. Louisville Athletics describes the seating as roughly evenly split between the lower and upper arena, which is why so many tickets for any game are upstairs.

Best seats for Cardinals basketball and concerts

Louisville basketball

• Best view: 105–107 and 115–117. Midcourt (106 and 116) is the benchmark, and middle rows let you see over courtside fans and the scorer's table.
• Best value: the first rows of 307–309 and 322–324. The 300 level is high in a 22,000-seat building, so lower rows matter more than the exact section.
• Behind the baskets: 101–102, 110–112 and 119–120 cost less but flatten the far end of the court. They suit fans who want to be in the noise rather than read plays.
• Watch the terrace: 209–212 are far from the court; treat them as a last resort for a sellout.

End-stage concerts

End-stage capacity is about 17,500. On the arena's end-stage maps (a November 2026 concert map is typical), the stage sits at the 101 end, and 101–103, 119–120 and the 300-level sections behind the stage are closed. The best raised views are 104–105 and 117–118, the open sections closest to the stage on each side; the far-end sections 110–112 and the 313–317 range face the stage straight on and see the whole production. Floor sections are numbered from the stage back.

Seats to avoid

• Top rows of the 300 corners at a concert: the longest sightline to an end stage.
• Side sections next to the stage when a show lists them as limited view; stage wings and speakers vary by tour.
• Seats beside the sideline portals in the 100 level, where foot traffic passes during play.

KFC Yum Center capacity by event

The arena seats 22,090 for basketball, 21,500 for volleyball and about 17,500 for an end-stage concert. It is the largest arena in the United States designed primarily for basketball by seating capacity and the second-largest used for college basketball, after Syracuse's JMA Wireless Dome.

Its sports attendance record is 22,815 for Louisville vs. Notre Dame men's basketball on March 9, 2013. The overall record belongs to Metallica, with 23,085 on March 9, 2019. In 2025 the arena marked its 15th anniversary with nearly 2,000 events and more than 13 million guests since opening.

Parking at the KFC Yum Center and getting downtown

The quickest option is the multi-level garage under the arena, run by the Parking Authority of River City (PARC); it and the Galt House Hotel are the two facilities with direct indoor access to the arena, and both are ADA accessible. The glassed-in Louie Link skywalk connects the 860-space Skywalk Garage on Third Street to the building. Beyond those, the arena counts more than 21,000 spaces within five blocks, including more than 2,200 on the street.

• Prepay: as of 2026, ParkWhiz and ParkMobile are the arena's preferred partners for advance event parking. Rates vary by event.
• Drop-off: the accessible drop-off area is on Main Street between Second and Third Streets, with ramps up Pepsi Plaza to the main entrance.
• Big nights: a sellout puts more than 22,000 people downtown at once, so parking a few blocks west or south and walking often beats waiting in the attached garage.

KFC Yum Center bag policy and entry rules

As of 2026, the KFC Yum Center allows bags up to 14 by 14 by 6 inches; it does not require clear bags. Backpacks (including drawstring bags), fanny packs, computer bags and camera bags are prohibited. Medical and parenting bags are allowed, and all bags are searched.

• Doors: usually 60 to 90 minutes before an event; 60 minutes before tip-off for Louisville basketball.
• Re-entry: none during events.
• Payment: the arena is cashless; cards and mobile wallets are accepted.
• Cameras: professional cameras, tablets, GoPro-style cameras and selfie sticks are banned at all events; still cameras depend on the event.
• Smoking and vaping: not allowed inside.
• Sensory support: the arena has been KultureCity Sensory Inclusive certified since fall 2018, and sensory bags with noise-canceling headphones are at the Fan Assistance booth.

Policies vary by event; check the arena FAQ before you go.

From a riverfront site fight to NCAA regionals

Ground was broken on November 28, 2006, after a public debate over where to build. Early plans favored a Louisville Water Company site, but the riverfront location backed by then-Governor Ernie Fletcher won out. The arena was designed by Populous with local firms and built by M. A. Mortenson; Louisville Athletics lists the cost at 238 million dollars, part of a larger project that included a parking structure and a floodwall.

The building has hosted NCAA men's tournament first- and second-round games in 2012 and 2015 and South Regional games in 2016, 2019 and 2023, plus the 2012 NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship. Kentucky's first UFC event was held here in 2011. A roof replacement began in August 2025, and officials have outlined more than 100 million dollars in renovations over the next 15 years.

Sources

• Wikipedia – KFC Yum! Center
• KFC Yum! Center – FAQs
• KFC Yum! Center – Seating charts
• Louisville Athletics – KFC Yum! Center facility
• RateYourSeats – KFC Yum! Center sections