Louisville teams confront financial realities

Some of Louisville's highest level sports teams are facing serious financial realities, which we discuss on this week's Access Louisville podcast.First, we chat about Racing Louisville FC, the city's National Women's Soccer League franchise, which is looking for an equity investor. According to a story from ESPN, Soccer Holdings, LLC — the owner of Racing Louisville FC — is seeking an equity partner to keep the team competitive in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).  A representative with Soccer Holdings told ESPN that its chairman, John Neace, was not interested in giving up controlling ownership or moving the team. Right now both Racing Louisville and Louisville City FC are locally owned, via Soccer Holdings. We discuss the implications of taking on outside investment — from positive outcomes (like higher caliber players) to negative outcomes (such as selling the team.)In a separate sports business story, we also chat about the financial consequences of Name Image Likeness rights and salaries for college athletes. Leaders at the University of Louisville have sounded the alarm about the lack of sustainability for situation. On this week's show, we also talk about a sweeping new plan for a $500 million development at the former Colgate-Palmolive Co. plant in Clarksville, Indiana. The plan would turn it into a mixed-use development, known as the Clockworks, which will have a large hotel and sports venue. We chat about a developers plans for a downtown-like area in Prospect.And we talk about the latest with the Louisville Zoo. And there's a brief mention of this new art gallery at the River Ridge Commerce Center.Access Louisville, sponsored by Baird, is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First.