Athletics announces new partnerships with Zappos, Norton Healthcare

UofL recently announced that Norton Healthcare has been named the official health care provider of the Louisville Cardinals. 

As part of the agreement, Norton Sports Health will provide medical support for all of the university's 23 sports programs. This support includes conducting all sports physicals and providing access to Norton Healthcare's network of sports health physicians, orthopedic surgeons, neurologists and primary care providers.
 
"We're looking forward to this partnership," said Russell F. Cox, president and chief executive officer, Norton Healthcare. "Norton Sports Health offers comprehensive treatment for local athletes of all ages and skill levels. We look forward to supporting UofL and keeping its premier athletes in the game."
 
In addition to offering its team of health providers, Norton Sports Health also will provide funding for athletic trainers on the sidelines, campus training rooms and state-of-the-art imaging equipment.
 
"The health and wellness of our players is our top priority. We're excited to team up with Norton Healthcare, an organization that has proven to offer the same level of passion, drive and expertise as our athletes," said UofL AD Vince Tyra.
 
Care will extend beyond the physical as Norton Sports Health also will offer mental health services, including access to counseling and sports performance specialists.
 
"Our goal is to care for the whole athlete," said Steven T. Hester, MD, MBA, division president, provider operations, and system chief medical officer, Norton Healthcare. "With our streamlined and comprehensive group of medical providers, we have the ability to provide the services athletes need both quickly and efficiently."
 
To support the process, all UofL athletes will have access to MyNortonChart and Norton eCare visits. More information about the partnership is available online. 

Zappos.com commits $1.5 million 

Additionally,Zappos.com has committed $1.5 million to University of Louisville Athletics. The 5-year commitment will serve as the primary source for refurbishing the approximately 37,800 lower bowl seats at Cardinal Stadium.

Those seats were part of the original equipment installed during the 1998 stadium construction. Throughout the past 21 years, weather has faded the seats from their original red color. An industrial UV protective coating will be applied on the existing seats through a special process to restore the color and strengthen the seats. With the cost to replace the seats estimated to be more than $6.5 million, the UV coating is a valid solution. 

As part of the commitment, the Zappos name will be emblazoned above the Cardinal Stadium field suites. 

In conjunction with the seat-coating project, all of the 3,000 bucket-style seats in Ulmer Stadium (softball) and Jim Patterson Stadium (baseball) will be replaced with new slat-back seats. About 1,000 of the extracted seats will also be coated with the UV protection and kept in storage as reserve stock for Cardinal Stadium.
  
"Being a good community member is extremely important to us and that includes our family here in Kentucky," said Justin Brown, senior director of Operations at Zappos.com.  "Since we're a company obsessed with providing the best customer service, what better way than contributing to their comfort while coming out to cheer on our Cardinals."

More information about the Zappos.com commitment is available online.