Sports Illustrated, Churchill Downs Team Up to Bring ‘Club SI’ to Kentucky Derby

There is a new luxury experience heading to the Kentucky Derby.

Sports Illustrated and the Churchill Downs Racetrack announced a multiyear partnership on Tuesday for naming rights on a new luxury dining experience dubbed Club SI. 

Club SI, located on the west side of the Paddock at Churchill Downs, will debut on opening night of derby week leading up to the annual Run for the Roses on May 4.

The interior of Club SI will feature iconic Sports Illustrated magazine covers and showcase past editorial features from the Kentucky Derby while overlooking the Paddock Runway, giving guests a unique behind-the-scenes view.

"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," president of Churchill Downs Racetrack Mike Anderson said in a statement. “Sports Illustrated shares our goal of combining exciting sports moments with upscale entertainment, and Club SI will provide the perfect space to achieve this."

Celebrity ambassadors will host Club SI during the Kentucky Derby each year. It will be open during premium racing days for guests to enjoy gourmet dishes from the Chef’s Table Buffet.

"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, SVP Media Brands at Authentic Brands Group, said in a statement.

"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."