When Muhammad Ali passed away last June, the community came together in an unprecedented, compassionate, and widespread manner to publicly honor and pay respects to their hometown hero, that this year the Muhammad Ali Center, Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau, Kentucky Exposition Center, Ohiobasketball.com, Louisville Bats, City of Louisville, and other “community ambassadors” are collaborating on a “grassroots” citywide 6-week long celebration of Muhammad Ali’s global impact and legacy, right here in The Champ’s hometown, from June 3 to July 15, 2017.
Having a multi-week, Ali-related summer festival will afford attractions, restaurants, hotels, and other businesses the opportunity to celebrate Muhammad’s legacy, be part of the community spirit, and attract visitors both near and far to their companies/venues. Each of the six weeks will have a “theme” attached that will mirror the “six core principles” that guided Muhammad Ali throughout his life: Confidence, Conviction, Dedication, Respect, Giving, and Spirituality. It is encouraged that community events either be tied to one of these core principles or have some sort of tie to Muhammad Ali or the Muhammad Ali Center.
The community-wide festival will be bookended by two major events: a Muhammad Ali Appreciation Night at Louisville Slugger Field (on June 3rd, the one-year anniversary of Muhammad Ali’s passing) and two premier girls’ basketball tournament events (July 5-15 at the Kentucky Exposition Center).
