Three big sports business stories

Access Louisville

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We switch into sports talk radio mode on this week's Access Louisville podcast with three big local sports business stories.

Stephen P. Schmidt, who covers sports business at Business First, tells us about Bellarmine University moving its men's basketball program back to Knights Hall in the Highlands. For the last few years the program has been playing at Freedom Hall. Knights Hall is on campus and it provides a much more intimate setting for watching games. But it does make us wonder what's next for Freedom Hall now without that regular tenant. Fortunately, it's on the Kentucky State Fairgrounds, where a big renovation project is underway.

Next, we talk about the rise of volleyball and how Louisville fits in. The KFC Yum Center is hosting the University of Louisville's women's volleyball team for several dates in the next few months and is the host for the championship later on in December.

After that, we go over our takeaways from a joint appearance by UofL men's basketball coach Pat Kelsey and University of Kentucky men's basketball coach Mark Pope. The two coaches, both new to their respective jobs this year, were interviewed on stage this week at the Leadership Louisville Luncheon by Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg.

(We also swerve into some college football talk later in the show — not much of a business story, just a thing that is happening.)

After sports we go over some recent restaurant news, including:

• The owners of local favorite Monnik Beer Co. have a new concept planned;

• Chef Shaq's Kitchen, a Downtown restaurant, is teaming up with a new cigar lounge;

• The former KFC 11 property in the Highlands has been sold;

• Starbucks is getting a new Downtown location;

• A bluegrass bar is moving into the former TimTam space; and

• A south end favorite, Khalil's, is closing to make way for a new Clucker's location.

Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. You can find it on popular services like Apple Podcasts and Spotify.