Churchill Downs Incorporated announced a multi-year partnership with Churchill Downs Racetrack and Sports Illustrated, ahead of the historic 150th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
The partnership will include exclusive multi-year naming rights for a new dining experience at the Kentucky Derby. Originally known as the 1895 Club, the deal sees it transformed into Club SI due to relaunch on the opening night of Derby Week, 4 May 2024.
Club SI will debut as part of the $200 million renovated Paddock Project at Churchill Downs for the upcoming 150th Kentucky Derby. According to CDI, Club SI will offer a ‘luxury equine-focused dining experience’ and views of the all-new Paddock and Paddock Runway.
The interior design of Club SI will showcase Sports Illustrated magazine covers, and editorials featuring past Kentucky Derby races, as well as a sneak peek into Sports Illustrated’s new SI Resorts vertical.
Celebrity ambassadors will host Club SI during the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks. The club will be open on premium race days and include dining tables to accommodate parties of two, four, six, or eight guests “who will enjoy gourmet dishes from the curated Chef’s Table Buffet, designated wagering windows, private bars and outdoor trackside viewing for live races,” according to a press release.
Furthermore, guests will be treated to the SI Enclosure which will deliver a front-row experience of the Paddock with covered outdoor dining tables to accommodate parties of four.
Mike Anderson, President of Churchill Downs Racetrack, said: “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,” he noted.
For his part, Michael Sherman, SVP of Media Brands at Authentic Brands Group, owner of the Sports Illustrated brand, 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,” he added.
