Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer's office said that a group of community leaders convened by former NBAer Junior Bridgeman on Friday met with the mayor "to discuss the possibility" of an NBA team coming to the city, according to Green & Klepal of the Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL. Fischer said the meeting gauged the “level of interest” and the “conditions necessary to attract a team.” He added, “This must be a win for the University of Louisville, as well as other stakeholders." Fischer spokesperson Phil Miller said that the city "is not involved in any 'active deal' with a team." Miller said that it was the "first meeting for the group, which included more than 20 people." He added that a deal "would have to be worked out with U of L to share the KFC Yum! Center -- and revenue -- with a professional team." UL Media Relations Dir Mark Hebert said that "no one from the university was invited to Friday’s meeting." Green & Klepal noted the school "keeps the bulk of revenue from suite sales and has control over scheduling at the building." However, the KFC Yum! Center "has struggled to pay off $349 million in construction bonds" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 9/15).
