Fire damages Muhammad Ali Center, closed ‘until further notice’

The Muhammad Ali Center announced that the museum and cultural centre dedicated to the heavyweight legend will be indefinitely closed after a fire damaged some of the grounds in the early morning hours Wednesday.

Founded in 2005 and located in Ali’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, the centre contains a trove of artefacts, historical exhibits and interactive engagements – none of which were damaged in the fire, which reportedly originated from the attached parking garage.

“The HVAC system used for the Center was greatly impacted,” the facility said in a statement that was posted to its X social media account. “Additionally, some smoke from the fire entered the building. As a result, the Center will unfortunately be closed to the general public until further notice.”

The Muhammad Ali Center, a six-story, nearly 100,000-square-foot structure located in Louisville’s West Main District, is a non-profit facility and organization that was founded by Ali’s wife, Lonnie, and the three-time heavyweight champion.

The centre’s stated mission is to “mobilize Muhammad Ali’s legacy to foster respect, inspire generations of changemakers and advance social justice.” It’s unclear how and whether the damage to the facility will affect upcoming events, such as the annual Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards (scheduled for November. 9) and a presentation by Pashtana Durrani, a human rights activist, community development expert and founder of Learn Afghanistan (November. 22).

“We are currently developing a plan to fully reopen the Center that can be supported by your donations,” the Muhammad Ali Center noted in its statement.