Churchill Downs to open 'Club SI' dining experience ahead of Derby 150. Take a peek inside
With Kentucky Derby 150 just four months away, Churchill Downs has announced another luxury experience will soon be unveiled at the iconic track.
As part of the $200 million multi-year Paddock Project renovation at Churchill Downs, which was ongoing during last year's Derby, a new dining experience will open to the public on Opening Night of Derby Week, a Churchill Downs press release announced Tuesday.
The dining club called Club SI, which will offer a "modern, sophisticated race day experience," is part of a new multi-year deal between Churchill Downs and Sports Illustrated for exclusive naming rights.
“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,” Michael Sherman, senior vice president of Media Brands at Authentic Brands Group, owner of the Sports Illustrated brand, said in a news release. “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.”
The Club SI dining space will provide an immersive view for guests of the new Paddock and Paddock runway, offering a behind-the-scenes look at some of horseracing's best athletes. The club, which will be open on premium race days, features dining tables to host parties of up to eight guests, gourmet dishes served at the Chef’s Table Buffet, wagering windows, private bars and an outdoor space to view live races trackside.
For Club SI guests, there will be a covered outdoor dining area as well where spectators can sit front row to experience the new paddock area.
The interior of the club will be Sports Illustrated themed, featuring Sports Illustrated magazine covers and former Kentucky Derby coverage from the national sports magazine. The club will showcase celebrity ambassadors as hosts for the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks annually.
“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,” Mike Anderson, president of Churchill Downs Racetrack, said in the release. “Sports Illustrated shares our goal of combining exciting sports moments with upscale entertainment, and Club SI will provide the perfect space to achieve this.”
Contact business reporter Olivia Evans at oevans@courier-journal.com or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter at @oliviamevans_.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Churchill Downs opens Club SI with Sports Illustrated in new Paddock
