10:24 AM EDT on Friday, August 19, 2005

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- The group formed to pick a site for a new sports arena in Louisville has voted to eliminate a proposed arena location near the University of Louisville.

Also, the Kentucky State Fair Board on Thursday proposed a new possible arena site on the edge of the state fairgrounds and within walking distance of hotels and restaurants. The Louisville Arena Task Force’s site selection committee agreed to consider the new site and eliminate the previous fairgrounds site.

The location near UofL had too many negatives, including inadequate parking and poor access to Interstate 65, said committee chairman John Hindeman.

UofL athletic director Tom Jurich said in an interview that the site was good for the university, “but if this committee doesn’t think that’s a positive then we’re fine.”

The university’s basketball program would be a prime arena tenant.

The new site proposed by the state fair board is owned by Jefferson County Public Schools and houses the district’s support services.

Lauren Roberts, a spokeswoman for the school district, said Superintendent Stephen Daeschner had been briefed about the fairgrounds proposal. The district is willing to consider selling the site, but it would have to find a comparable building, she said.

Louisville Metro Mayor Jerry Abramson, who favors a downtown arena, said the new site offers more potential than the Cardinal Stadium location. Still, he said, a downtown location would be better because there already are numerous restaurants, bars and other shops, while the new site proposed by the fair board has significantly fewer. Two downtown sites are being considered.

Lt. Gov. Steve Pence said Thursday that he wants the task force to reduce the three sites to two by Sept. 6, the date of the next full task force meeting.

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Information from: The Courier-Journal,

http://www.courier-journal.com

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)