When boxing legend and sports icon Muhammad Ali was laid to rest a month ago in Louis

When boxing legend and sports icon Muhammad Ali was laid to rest a month ago in Louisville, the city was at the center of the world's attention.

That spotlight fell squarely on the KFC Yum Center on June 10 as it was the spot chosen by Ali and his family to host an interfaith funeral service that was attended by thousands and lasted more than three hours.

Sandra Moran, director of marketing for the Yum Center, said the smooth transition of the arena into a house of mourning and celebration didn't happen overnight.

"It was years of planning," she told members of the Louisville Arena Authority during its bi-monthly meeting Monday morning at the Yum Center.

The arena authority oversees the financial operations of the Yum Center.

Moran shared details of the behind-the-scenes transformation of the facility, noting that Yum Center staff and GM Dennis Petrullo had been in contact with Ali and his family, represented by Bob Gunnell of Boxcar PR, for years to work out the logistics of the funeral. The Ali family and Petrullo spoke again when Ali's health started to fail.

In the week following Ali's death, national and global media outlets descended on the city as Louisville-based Boxcar led media relations and city government staged a festival in Ali's honor.

Boxcar said it received 2,000 media credential requests for the service and that 800 were approved.

Moran said media outlets used space inside the arena that normally is used as a practice court. An outdoor truck bay and surrounding areas near the arena were staging grounds for media trucks that live-streamed the service for the world to watch on television or online.

And 15,000 free tickets for the service were dispensed at the Yum Center box office in a mere one hour and ten minutes, Moran said.

Because the event drew celebrities, foreign dignitaries and even former U.S. President Bill Clinton, there were nearly 300 security detail on site, including U.S. Secret Service and U.S. State Department agents, Homeland Security and Capitol Police, Kentucky State Police and Louisville Metro Police Department, Moran said.



R.I.P. You will always be a hero😡 (for me)

Back in those days he is one of the icon of boxing. I may not able to witness him fighting but my father always put his bet in the hands of Ali. He said one of the most memorable fight he did was 3rd fight with Joe Fraizer.

Muhammad Ali i miss that guy!!

R.I.P.

Muhammad Ali Facts. Muhammad Ali born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942. He changed his name to Muhammad Ali in 1964 after joining Nation of Islam. Muhammad Ali has been married four times and has seven daughters and two sons.

Muhammad Ali Facts. Muhammad Ali born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942. He changed his name to Muhammad Ali in 1964 after joining Nation of Islam. Muhammad Ali has been married four times and has seven daughters and two sons.


Seven daughters and two sons........ he been sporting alot :dance:

The will of God is always best. And shall be done forever; And they who trust in Him are blest, He will forsake them never. He will always be the best.