A multi-year partnership between Churchill Downs Racetrack and Sports Illustrated for exclusive naming rights of a new luxury dining experience, Club SI, ahead of the 150th running of the May 4 Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs Incorporated announced Tuesday. Originally planned as the 1895 Club, Club SI will be unveiled opening night of Derby Week.
Club SI is part of the $200 million renovated Paddock Project at Churchill Downs, offering a new luxury equine-focused dining experience with a view of the all-new paddock and paddock runway giving guests behind-the-scenes experiences. The interior design of Club SI will showcase iconic Sports Illustrated magazine covers, editorial featuring past Kentucky Derby races, and a sneak peek into Sports Illustrated's new SI Resorts vertical art.
Each year, celebrity ambassadors will act as hosts for Club SI during the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks for a premium race day experience.
Open on premium race days, the club will 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. Steps from the club, 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.
“Sports Illustrated shares our goal of combining exciting sports moments with upscale entertainment, and Club SI will provide the perfect space to achieve this,” said Mike Anderson, President of Churchill Downs Racetrack.
Michael Sherman, SVP Media Brands at Authentic Brands Group, owner of the Sports Illustrated brand, added, “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.”
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