The Kings were established October 7, 2025. Its name and mascot comes from Kentucky's thoroughbred racing history; co-owner Mike Repole had a 20-year history operating a horse racing stable in the state and racing horses in the Kentucky Derby. Noting that most of the other horse-related mascots such as "Stallions" and "Colts" were already taken, Repole drew inspiration from horse racing's reputation as a "sport of kings."[1][2] He also considered the possibility of approaching the Louisville Slugger baseball bat company about licensing the name Louisville Sluggers, but decided against it.[1] Louisville mayor Craig Greenberg noted the name's appropriate fit, given the city being named after Louis XVI, the French monarch.[3]
Lynn Family Stadium is the smallest stadium in the UFL, with most others having a capacity of at least 20,000 spectators. Repole had specifically sought out the stadium for a more intimate atmosphere and remarked that if he had been required to use L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium, the much larger football stadium in the city, he would have not brought a team there.[1]
Eric Wood, the Buffalo Bills former offensive lineman and current radio color analyst, was named the team's first community ambassador.[3]
The Kings have had the strongest demand for ticket sales of the three newly relocated teams for the 2026 season. Within a month of the announcement, a supporters group, the Kings' Court, had been established and was seeking official recognition.[4]