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Jack Kelly

Business Lexington

May 28, 2009

Lexington, KY - Business Lexington columnist Jack Kelly interviews Blue Equity/BEST entrepreneur Jonathan Blue.

Jonathan, as a lifelong Louisville resident, have you always been a sports fan as well?

JB: Absolutely. Sports has always been a significant part of my life as well as my family's -- particularly college and professional basketball.

When you speak of college basketball - the Louisville Cardinals?

JB: Yes, although I do love and appreciate the UK brand as well.

As you grew up and moved into your corporate and community roles here, did you see any gaps or lost sports opportunities?

JB: Not really, although there can always be more events. I do believe that Louisville and this region has come of age in sports in the past decade. Look at our new arena, the Ryder Cup, the National Senior Games, a series of Breeders Cups, the X-Games, not to mention the Derby and with all of these events, there has been an increased public awareness of the value of sports. All of these have combined to help elevate sports in our community and to help our community believe in itself relative to sports.

Is there one specific that you can point to?

JB: I believe our hosting of the Tyson-Williams fight in 2004 was the watershed event. We took it on here, had a great crowd, broadcast it internationally on Showtime with strong revenue, and proved we were in the first tier of sports cities. Our new arena will only enhance our ability to do this. Once people see it and experience it, we will be able to attract and host even more and bigger-scale events.

Is it this increased influence of sports in Louisville that inspired your move into the sports business arena?

JB: It is all tied together. I believe that I have a good vision as to how sports can enhance our community and believe that we can help to accomplish Louisville's objectives in this area. As I got more involved, I could also see some business opportunities that I believed could be enhanced by my investment and the involvement of our management team.

Much of Blue Entertainment and Sports Television includes athletes and events not living in or held in Louisville. Do you see any disconnect or conflict here?

JB: Not at all. I believe that this business will take us wherever it goes, but that our unique perspective will also help us to find opportunity for Louisville and Kentucky. When we acquired the SFX properties from Live Nation, we also brought on some of the pioneers and founders of the sports business industry, and we know that they are all creative.

Has this acquisition and the others you made in the same period (including Lexington's Game Seven) worked out as you hoped?

JB: You always want better results and we are never satisfied, but we are generally pleased with the talent we have brought to BEST and those events we control. Some others who expanded during this period have been less satisfied with their results, I would wager. To be frank, I would like to have acquired a few more properties and am always looking for added opportunities for the platform.

You are the past Chair of Greater Louisville Inc. (Louisville's counterpart to Commerce Lexington). With your ability to see the big business picture for Louisville, do you have any thoughts of Louisville becoming Indianapolis Part 2 - using sports and sports business to define the city?

JB: Not really. We do not have this specific vision, but I view Louisville as "Possibility City," and what sports can bring will clearly help enhance our downtown look and feel, and both our downtown and overall community-wide lifestyle. In today's world, having a sports focus is also a bit of a family focus, and that image is one we like. I also love the idea that doing what we are doing will encourage more of our people to stay and make their lives and raise families here, and encourage others to visit, and that the connection between sports and economic impact is being more clearly understood.

You personally have become more visible not only here in Kentucky but in national general interest publications -- with the Delta Sky Magazine and the Wall Street Journal as recent examples. How do you feel about this?

JB: It is not something I am seeking out, but our story is an interesting one and, with my name on the door, it is not unexpected that there might be some interest in me personally. I do like the fact that the tone of the articles (particularly Sky) has been positive and reflects my personal values and gets our commonwealth great publicity. We need as much of that as we can get, particularly now.

With your presence in Louisville, do you have any thoughts about expanding your presence in Lexington in your future plans?

JB: Well, you know we added Brooks Downing's Game Seven into Blue Entertainment and Sports Television two years ago, and that brought in not only their representation business but also the management of the Fifth Third Tennis event. Brooks is still well known and respected in Lexington, and we are always looking to expand our statewide footprint. We are always looking for "experiential" properties in whatever market they may exist or be worth hosting.

With all that has happened and that BEST and Blue Equity can be a part of, what do you think about the future in your private moments? What would you like to do that you are not doing yet?

JB: Louisville has proven itself as a major city that can be host to the largest sports events; we do it every year for the Derby. I believe that the new arena will provide us a platform to seek out an even higher level of events and entertainment. We are only restricted by others' view of us. I only see a great future for us.

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