There’s a new hometown hero banner in downtown Louisville

Move over, Diane.

A colorful banner, depicting a gold Kentucky Derby trophy at Churchill Downs, is displayed on the site of a beighe brick building.

The new banner will remain in place for around a year, before being replaced by another “Hometown Hero.”

Photo courtesy Greater Louisville Pride Foundation

If you’ve driven down 2nd Street in downtown Louisville lately, you’ve probably had your eyes on the prize.

That’s because Derby City’s newest hometown hero banner was recently installed on the Starks Building — facing 2nd Street — featuring the trophy for the upcoming 150th Kentucky Derby.

The Diane Sawyer banner was retired to make room — and it was probably time. The 75-ft tall banner of Louisville’s favorite news anchor had occupied the Starks Building exterior for the last 20 years.

The new banner will stay up for around a year, and will then be replaced by another hometown hero.

Don’t worry, Diane isn’t going away. The Greater Louisville Pride Foundation announced the “Avenue of Heroes,” a future, second-phase of the program where every Hometown Hero will be honored permanently with a smaller, light-pole banner. Details on the project are TBD.

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