Angel’s Envy, the Downtown Louisville-based distiller that produces finished whiskeys, and the University of Louisville Athletic Association, have announced that the recently-renovated Angel’s Envy Bourbon Club will open when the Cardinals kick off the 2022 football season in Cardinal Stadium Sept. 16.
The renovated club is a product of a $4 million gift from Angel’s Envy. In addition to naming the club space the “Angel’s Envy Bourbon Club,” the agreement also includes marketing and pouring rights at Cardinal Stadium, meaning visitors will have the opportunity to order and enjoy Angel’s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Barrels throughout Cardinal Stadium.
“This is an exciting day for the University of Louisville,” said Josh Heird, UofL director of Athletics. “With the opening of the Angel’s Envy Bourbon Club, we have one of the premier hospitality spaces in the city. It is our goal to provide a best-in-class experience for our fans, and the Angel’s Envy Bourbon Club helps us achieve that goal. We are extremely grateful to Angel’s Envy for their investment in our university and our athletic department; we look forward to working with them for years to come.”
The 18,000-square foot club makeover began in late November 2021; Jack Porter led the club’s design and Luckett & Farley served as chief architect. Buffalo Construction managed construction of the entire project.
New features in the spacious club include:
- A new steel mezzanine with a double staircase, which connects the club levels, has been added to the center of the room, as an abstract Cardinal sculpture flies above the new structure.
- New steel and glass handrails line the fourth floor and mezzanine.
- Large LED screens flank each end of the club, with new televisions and audio system added throughout the space.
- New extended main bars positioned at each end of the club, with private speakeasy bars tucked away at each end.
- A highlighted focus in the center of the club is the massive K-RAX-built custom bourbon barrel storage system, generously gifted to the project by the Koetter Group Inc.
- New gathering furniture and soft seating have been added. Custom artwork and branding reflect the history of Cardinals Football.
- New finishing upgrades have been added such as flooring, paint, wallcovering and light fixtures throughout the space and at the concession and condiment stations.
- Renovated elevator lobbies and restrooms on the third and fourth floor.
“We’re so excited to share Angel’s Envy with the many Cardinal fans, alumni and guests who will visit Cardinal Stadium this football season, especially those who will join us in the Angel’s Envy Bourbon Club,” said Gigi DaDan, Angel’s Envy general manager. “Through this partnership with the University of Louisville Athletic Association and Cardinal Stadium, as well as our recent $8.2 million expansion to our downtown Louisville Brand Home, Angel’s Envy is proud to continue to invest in our hometown and support our local community.”
The club, which spans the length of the football field, is a popular gathering place for fans at UofL football games, and the space is also used throughout the year for various events such as weddings, job fairs, conferences, meetings, awards dinners, registrations for car shows, bridal shows and others. The massive club can accommodate up to 1,500 for receptions, 1,000 in a theatre setting and 700 for banquets.
