Louisville Memorial Auditorium funding significantly slashed in mayor's proposed budget

THE JUDGE SAID HER BOND AT $7,500. AS PART OF THE MAYOR’S PROPOSED BUDGET. A LOCAL HISTORICAL BUILDING COULD LOSE MORE THAN $100,000 OF ANNUAL FUNDING. ADDIE MEINERS SPOKE TO STAFF MEMBERS OF THE LOUISVILLE MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM TO FIND OUT WHAT THE LOSS OF FUNDING COULD MEAN. SOUNDS LIKE THIS HAVE FILLED THE LOUISVILLE MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM FOR NEARLY A HUNDRED YEARS. THE MASSIVE THEATER WAS BUILT IN 1929 AND HAS SINCE HOSTED A PLETHORA OF PERFORMANCES FROM THE ROLLING STONES AND BILLY JOEL TO LOCAL PAGEANTS AND PLAYS FOR MANY YEARS, THE MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM WAS THE PLACE. BUT NOW LOUISVILLE MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM BOARD MEMBER AL WELCH SAYS IT COULD SOON NO LONGER BE A PLACE AT ALL. LAST MONTH, MAYOR GREENBURG RELEASED HIS PROPOSED BUDGET. HISTORICALLY, THAT BUDGET INCLUDED $132,000 FOR THE AUDITORIUM. BUT IN THIS YEAR’S BUDGET, FUNDING WAS REDUCED TO $20,000. WELCH SAYS THAT FUNDING MAKES UP ABOUT 25% OF THEIR ANNUAL REVENUE. WHILE WE HAVE A FOUNDATION, THERE IS NOT AN ENDOWMENT, AND SO. IT’S MONEY IS NEEDED IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. IN ADDITION TO LOSING THE CITY’S APPROPRIATION, THE AUDITORIUM IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR BASIC MAINTENANCE IN THE SUMMERTIME. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP THE LOUISVILLE MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM BEARABLE, AS THERE’S NO HVAC SYSTEM IN THE BUILDING. AND THAT’S THE NUMBER ONE THING THE STAFF SAYS THEY NEED. IF WE DIDN’T GET THAT, NO OTHER MONIES WERE THERE TO TAKE ITS PLACE. IT COULD BE A DISASTER. WE REACHED OUT TO MAYOR GREENBERG’S OFFICE TO ASK WHY HIS PROPOSED BUDGET CUT FUNDING TO THE AUDITORIUM. HE SENT US THIS STATEMENT SAYING HE ALLOCATED $500,000 TO MATCH FUNDRAISING FOR THE AUDITORIUM’S MAINTENANCE TWO YEARS AGO. SO I ASKED WELCH HOW THAT FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN IS CURRENTLY GOING. IT’S A CHALLENGING TIME FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS. WHILE WELCH SAYS THE AUDITORIUM REMAINS A STRONG ECONOMIC GENERATOR FOR THIS PART OF THE CITY, BRINGING IN AROUND $3.5 MILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT ANNUALLY, HE STILL WORRIES ABOUT ITS FUTURE. THIS IS AN INTEGRAL PART. YOU’VE GOT SPALDING, YOU’VE GOT SIMMONS, YOU’VE GOT. THE MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM. IT’S A IT’S A A CORE ENTIT

Updated: 6:41 PM EDT May 25, 2026

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Updated: 6:41 PM EDT May 25, 2026

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Louisville Memorial Auditorium, a historic venue built in 1929, is facing a significant reduction in city funding under Mayor Craig Greenberg's proposed budget. Al Welsh, a board member for the auditorium, said they're used to getting $132,996 annually from the city's budget. But this year, the mayor is proposing allocating $20,000 to the auditorium. "While we have a foundation, there is not an endowment. And so, that money is needed," Welsh said. "Over the years, the city of Louisville has given us that appropriation, which makes up about 20%, 25% of the overall expenditures in dealing with a magnificent edifice such as this."In addition to losing city funding, the auditorium is in dire need of maintenance, including taking care of chipping paint and the installation of an HVAC system, which the auditorium currently does not have in place. WLKY reached out to Greenberg's office and asked why the allocation was cut. His office sent this statement:"Mayor Greenberg has been a strong supporter of Memorial Auditorium. In fact, two years ago, he allocated $500,000 in his budget after Memorial Auditorium leadership committed to a $1 million match through private fundraising to support critical renovations and updates. To date, private funds have not been secured. The mayor has not requested repayment of the city’s investment, with the expectation that Memorial leadership will still fulfill its commitment. Demonstrated progress on that pledge will be an important factor in considering future funding amounts."Welsh was asked how the leadership at the Auditorium was doing in raising those funds. Welsh responded, "It's a challenging time, for a variety of reasons, for grant applications." Despite the difficulties, Welsh highlighted the auditorium's economic impact, drawing more than 200,000 people to the Auditorium annually and generating approximately $3.5 million for the city."You've got Spaulding, you've got Simmons, you've got the Memorial Auditorium. It's a core entity that they all need to have support one way or the other," he said. Leadership at the auditorium plans to continue fundraising efforts, including seeking more grant opportunities, and will engage with Metro Council and the mayor before the city's budget is finalized.If you'd like to help with fundraising for the Louisville Memorial Auditorium, you can donate here.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

Louisville Memorial Auditorium, a historic venue built in 1929, is facing a significant reduction in city funding under Mayor Craig Greenberg's proposed budget.

Al Welsh, a board member for the auditorium, said they're used to getting $132,996 annually from the city's budget. But this year, the mayor is proposing allocating $20,000 to the auditorium.

"While we have a foundation, there is not an endowment. And so, that money is needed," Welsh said. "Over the years, the city of Louisville has given us that appropriation, which makes up about 20%, 25% of the overall expenditures in dealing with a magnificent edifice such as this."

In addition to losing city funding, the auditorium is in dire need of maintenance, including taking care of chipping paint and the installation of an HVAC system, which the auditorium currently does not have in place.

WLKY reached out to Greenberg's office and asked why the allocation was cut. His office sent this statement:

"Mayor Greenberg has been a strong supporter of Memorial Auditorium. In fact, two years ago, he allocated $500,000 in his budget after Memorial Auditorium leadership committed to a $1 million match through private fundraising to support critical renovations and updates. To date, private funds have not been secured. The mayor has not requested repayment of the city’s investment, with the expectation that Memorial leadership will still fulfill its commitment. Demonstrated progress on that pledge will be an important factor in considering future funding amounts."

Welsh was asked how the leadership at the Auditorium was doing in raising those funds.

Welsh responded, "It's a challenging time, for a variety of reasons, for grant applications."

Despite the difficulties, Welsh highlighted the auditorium's economic impact, drawing more than 200,000 people to the Auditorium annually and generating approximately $3.5 million for the city.

"You've got Spaulding, you've got Simmons, you've got the Memorial Auditorium. It's a core entity that they all need to have support one way or the other," he said.

Leadership at the auditorium plans to continue fundraising efforts, including seeking more grant opportunities, and will engage with Metro Council and the mayor before the city's budget is finalized.

If you'd like to help with fundraising for the Louisville Memorial Auditorium, you can donate here.

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Louisville Memorial Auditorium funding significantly slashed in mayor's proposed budget

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