Changing The Name Of Papa Johns Cardinal Stadium Is Not Likely Until 2041

With all the recent controversy surrounding John Schnatter, Papa Johns founder, there has much talk on social media and around the water coolers of every work place in Louisville about changing the name of U of L’s football stadium. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it seems that the name won’t change unless John Schnatter changes it himself and the University approved the change. The name change can only occur once every 5 years and the new Stadium name “shall be that of John Schnatter, a person or entity closely affiliated with Schnatter, or his or its successors or assigns” – according to the contract between the University and Schnatter.  Here is a part of the contract…

In acknowledgment of Contributor’s gift hereunder,
University has determined to cause the Stadium name (or related
logos approved by Contributor) to be prominently displayed or
mentioned in the following locations or media:

(1) fixed location on main scoreboard;

(2) on an internal wall prominently visible to the
media, including television, during football games and other field
events;

(3) exterior Stadium signage;

(4) on all tickets and ticket envelopes for
University events held at the Stadium; and

(5) on all television, radio, newspaper, Internet,
poster, outdoor and all other advertising and media promoting
University events held at the Stadium (to the extent University has
control of such media).

Not more frequently than once every five years
during the Term, Contributor, by giving written notice to the
University President, shall have the right to request that
University change the acknowledgment of the gift by changing the
Stadium name; provided, however, that any name change shall be
subject to the following:

(1) University’s consent to the name change, which
consent University agrees will not be unreasonably withheld;

(2) the new Stadium name shall be that of
Contributor, a person or entity closely affiliated with
Contributor, or his or its successors or assigns; and

(3) if within 5 years of the date of this Agreement,
the name shall include ?Cardinal? (except that this requirement (3) shall not apply if at such time there is another stadium in the
City of Louisville which is identified as ?Cardinal Stadium? or any
other name similar to, or that could be confused with, ?Papa John’s
Cardinal Stadium?).

If Contributor requests University to change the
acknowledgment by changing the name of the Stadium, Contributor
shall be responsible for all costs of changing signs, logos and
related materials.

University agrees to name Contributor, or someone
designated by Contributor, to be a member of the Board(s) or
committee(s) controlling Stadium signage, design, marketing,
promotion and management.

7. Term .As used in this.Agreement, “Term” means the period
beginning with the date of this Agreement and ending on December 31
following the fifteenth season in which University’s football team
plays at least 50% of its home games in the Stadium.

** On September 26th, 2000, Schnatter made a $4 million dollar donation for the building of Cardinal Park. Within that agreement, there was an amendment to the original agreement for the stadium.

3. AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT.

Section 6(a) of the Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the and at
the end of subsection (4), by substituting a semi-colon for the period at the end of subsection (5)
and by adding at the end thereof the following:

the exterior north side of the Stadium (visible from Eastern
Parkway); the exterior west side of the Stadium (visible from
Churchill Downs); and on top of the West Side of the Stadium
(visible from I 65); and

(7) to always refer to the Stadium (in its advertising and communications) by
its full and proper name and to avoid abbreviating or otherwise shortening
the name.

. Section 7 of the Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as
follows:

As used in this Agreement, Term shall mean the period beginning with
the date of this Agreement and ending on December 31, 2033.

In a second amendment on August 22nd, 2007, an agreement between the University and Schnatter was made in exchange for a $8 million donation for the expansion of the stadium.

AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT.

(a)

Section 6(c) of the Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the “and” at the end
of subsection (6), by substituting a semi-colon and the word “and” for the period at the end of subsection
(7) and by adding at the end thereof the following:
“(8)on the exterior of the upper level of the east side of the Stadium, two ”Papa
John’s Cardinal Stadium” signs of similar size and design as currently
located on the west side of the Stadium, and located to ensure high visibility
from I-65.”

(b)

Section 7 of the Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
“As used in this Agreement, “Term” shall mean the period beginning with the date
of this Agreement and ending on December 31, 2040.

All information about the contract is from –