KHP SPONSORSHIP - Barn Sponsorship

The Kentucky Horse Park, an agency under the Commonwealth of Kentucky's Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet located in Fayette County, is soliciting naming rights sponsorships for four newly constructed barns (Barns A, B, I, and J) through a Request for Proposals issued on January 15, 2026, with responses due by January 22, 2026, at 3:00 PM. The facility, situated on over 1,200 acres in the Bluegrass region and hosting more than 200 annual events with 1.7 million annual visitors, seeks a sponsorship partner to secure naming rights for these state-of-the-art equestrian facilities, each containing 100 stalls and equipped with restrooms, wash bays, and center aisles. The successful respondent must demonstrate financial stability and submit proposals through the Vendor Self Service website, including a signed cover page, notarized affidavit, and sponsorship response outlining the financial structure and proposed term. The evaluation criteria assigns 20 points for responsiveness, 20 points for respondent background and business compatibility, and 60 points for the sponsorship response, with a minimum score of 80 required for consideration. In exchange for sponsorship, the respondent receives facility signage at each barn, website recognition with a live link, logo placement on digital and video boards, social media promotion, brochure display opportunities, a 25 percent discount on meeting space, up to five annual facility passes, and the right to claim sponsorship status in promotional materials, though not "official sponsor" status per state regulations.

The sponsorship is structured as a cash-only offering with a $2 million fee for naming rights to all four barns for the initial ten-year term, with an optional additional five-year renewal term available for $500,000 ($100,000 annually). The RFP does not indicate any specific set-aside designations, disadvantaged enterprise restrictions, or incumbent vendors, nor does it reference integration with existing infrastructure or technology requirements. No bidder conference is mentioned in the documentation, and award is expected to follow the evaluation period. Organizations interested in this opportunity must meet the financial stability requirements and comply with all submission requirements outlined in the RFP, with all proposals submitted through the designated Vendor Self Service website.