Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
A truly viable plan or political posturing? That is the question today as the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government sent out a press release mentioning the potential for the creation of a new downtown basketball arena in Lexington. Mayor Jim Newberry came out today and said that he has appointed an Authority to look into the possibility of putting a new arena downtown with the potential to hold up to 25-30,000 people and the addition of the all-important luxury boxes to the premises. The new arena would be the centerpiece of some greater downtown development, including the potential for the creation of a Riverwalk type area in downtown Lexington.
There are obviously a number of potential issues that go into such a decision and most, if not all, will have very little to do with basketball. From my perspective, the question as to whether an arena should be built is strictly financial and has to do with the greater development of Lexington as a whole. IF I were to be convinced that building a downtown arena would have the effect of bettering the city as a whole, as I think is the case in Louisville, then I believe such an arena should be built. That is the practical reality of modern-day athletics and it takes on an even more important concern when one is talking about an arena owned by a city that may serve as the centerpiece of the city’s revitalization plan. While I love Rupp Arena, its cavernous size makes potential worries about losing “atmosphere” not of a huge concern to me as the replacement will be similar in size and if done correctly, can cure some of the sight line issues that modern arena construction has helped eliminate.
The bottom line is this….Kentucky basketball is great no matter where the arena is located. Having gone to Duke, I appreciate the warmth of a small basketball gym and the homecourt advantage it gives. But bigtime athletic programs, especially those that are the centerpieces of major public institutions simply cannot compete in the modern world in such environments. Bigtime college athletics is a business and the best business decision must be made…..not only for the university, but the city as well. I hope that the new arena would give more consideration to student seating and to long-time season ticket holders who are not simply the big-time donors. Plus, allowing 6,000 new individuals to purchase tickets to UK games would not be the worst thing in the world. If done correctly, the loss in “atmosphere” will not be nearly as debilitating as the benefits provided by the new income streams and potential for the city of Lexington. While such a plan is a LONG WAY from reality and truly can only be evaluated after knowing all of the details, the idea of a new Rupp Arena should not be one that fans immediately discard.
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October 22nd, 2007 at 8:14 pm
1st. Only if it’s named after me.
October 22nd, 2007 at 8:19 pm
Coach Rupp’s ghost says ” build it and they will come”.
October 22nd, 2007 at 8:20 pm
god please happen.
October 22nd, 2007 at 8:21 pm
As long as they get the bluehairs out of the lower seats and give it to the students or more roudy fans I’m for it.
October 22nd, 2007 at 8:21 pm
If you build it, they will come.
October 22nd, 2007 at 8:23 pm
It is a great plan. It would be awesome for the city.
October 22nd, 2007 at 8:24 pm
if they do this, i hope it will be nearly as good as the university of virginia’s arena. uva’s place is immaculate and absolutely gorgeous.
October 22nd, 2007 at 8:24 pm
also it must be better than loserville’s
October 22nd, 2007 at 8:25 pm
5000 standing room only student section surrounding the court on all sides; nice club level; followed by the upper deck or regular season ticket holders/ student overflow/ general admission = everyone is happy and awesome homecourt advantage.
October 22nd, 2007 at 8:26 pm
i just don’t know if you could name another building “rupp arena”. sorta takes the mystique out of it. but then again, if the real rupp is going to be hosting dog shows from now on, maybe the name should be carried over to a new facility.
maybe “kentucky coliseum” or something like that?
October 22nd, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Gillispie gay rumors confirmed?
In the 2007-2008 UK Basketball yearbook here is a quote by Billy Gillispie when asked about Jody Meeks.
Gillispie: “I think he has the ability to score some…I think he’s got a really nice body…”
So, are the rumors really true? Makes one wonder…
October 22nd, 2007 at 8:31 pm
11) i dont get what youre trying to say
October 22nd, 2007 at 8:32 pm
I knew this was coming… or at least I hoped it. I think you sort of nuked the whole “You can’t replace Wrigley Field” argument as soon as you left Memorial. Demand is there, this would be the PERFECT icing on the cake Mitch just pulled out of the oven with the Craft Center.
October 22nd, 2007 at 8:33 pm
nm, now i get it
October 22nd, 2007 at 8:36 pm
wodiecrew.com broke this first at 2:54PM. TS.
October 22nd, 2007 at 8:40 pm
Rupp sucks because all the big money sits down low and the “Real” fans who cheer their ass off is getting shuffled way up high with bad backs because of the absence of seatbacks.If a new arena is built,It has to be on campus.To me 24,000 or 30,000 seats doesnt mean s**t if the average fan cant get any closer than halfway down to the the floor level!
October 22nd, 2007 at 8:42 pm
it would only make sense to increase capacity. i say make it hold 35,000 and not one “Big Blue Fan” less.
October 22nd, 2007 at 8:48 pm
How about simply calling it
‘Big Blue?’
And I agree, have 5-8k students surround the entire perimeter of the court, with season ticket holders getting the courtside areas on both sides above them. General admission tickets could be on the ends and the upper level, AND include sky boxes for the uber-wealthy/boosters.
If you get the student’s that close to the court it will create an atmosphere akin to what you get at Duke and WKU, and if you build it big enough around them it will still have the intimidating feel that a 20k plus arena provides.
The way Rupp is set up now, the only way to get the crowd involved is to run up and down the court thus creating big play after big play which keeps the crowd perpetually on their feet.
Oh, and seatbacks for the upper arena, gotta put in some seatbacks.
October 22nd, 2007 at 8:48 pm
#9 Having 5,000 students around the court is a great idea and I’m all for it if the students would show up. I’m currently a student at UK and go to all the home games but if you look at the ERupption Zone during any game other than the big games (UF, UT, UNC, UL, IU, etc.) it is not nearly full. There is always plenty of room for more students in the back of the ERupption Zone. There is no way they’ll give us more seats close to the court if we don’t use the ones we’ve already got.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:04 pm
#18 they will never allow it be called Big Blue but the fans can call it that. Modern sports can oly build these places if some sponsor gets to put his name on it. We can also never get the students to have all around the court but they need to do something to improve the student section.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:05 pm
any updates on Patterson in the hospital rumors?
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:09 pm
I have dreamed of a Georgia Dome in Lexington, contiguous to UK, on the northern side or corner (FB & Basketball). A minimum of 30,000 seats with sky domes and all. Perhaps a shopping mall with high rise parking at a $2 minimum per car except for game days. Floor area would be for students with assured sighting by the high paying season ticket holders for a few rows after that. I want the campus and today’s students more involved with Kentucky basketball.
They have a tradition to become involved in.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:13 pm
i hate to break it to everyone but there is no money to be made from increasing the student section so it will never happen. The people that would build the a new arena are not interested in creating a better homecourt advantage, they will be looking for what will make the most money, ie. how many luxury seats can we sell to pay for it.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:13 pm
What hospital rumors?
I say increase the seating to 45,000.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:19 pm
Put a dome on Commomwealth and lets turn it to 70,000,sell exclusive rights to NBC and become independent and wake up the echoes…ohh nevermind!!
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:19 pm
I’m glad to see there aren’t a lot of yahoos here defending the monstrosity that is Rupp arena. It’s a great place to watch a basketball game, on TV.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Matthew Jones,When you gonna be back on the air?
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:26 pm
21.
FWIW, I’ve heard he’s all right, but might have a condition which would put his playing career at risk.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:27 pm
say what?????
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:28 pm
i say build it keep the old blue hairs that get mad at you standing a cheering keep the butts up stairs they like sitting down. give them wooden benches let them rent out seat backs…
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:29 pm
19, the reason why the ERupption zone looks empty is because they give each student a square space on each level. The students cram forward to get closer to the floor, thus leaving space in the back. So blame it on UK and Rupp or not letting more students cram into that area.
They considered building a new arena 10 years ago, but opted to install new video screens and new blue seats instead. At the time they also considered building a new arena on campus or expanding Memorial. The reason all of that got started 10 years ago was because the city wanted to sell the arena to UK, but I’m not sure what happened with that.
Also, if you put real seats in the upper deck, that will lessen the number of people the arena can hold. So I doubt they will install real seats if they are going for a larger audience.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:30 pm
This is one of the biggest wastes of money in state history if this happens. ‘Because Louisville got one’ is not a valid excuse for building an arena worth hundreds of millions of dollars while Kentucky has one of the best arenas ever built in the country.
You don’t destroy Wrigley Field. Louisville’s needs are different from that of Lexington, Freedom Hall is completely different than Rupp Arena. This backwards politics of this state can only be magnified if we spend MORE money on another arena, while poverty in the state is still rampant, and our education is pitiful.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:32 pm
Lex
You are causing quite a stir on TCP and KYink.I hope you reporting the right info.But you never said anything to this point to make me doubt you.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:32 pm
28 what are you talking about?
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:33 pm
education is what the student makes of it. i graduated from waggener high school, one of the worst in louisville and went on to attend centre college in danville
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:33 pm
We have a historic, 23,000 capacity, state of the art arena that is and always has been the envy of the college world and we want to destroy it only because of revitalization in downtown Louisville…
If the state jumps on board with this idea, they should all be kicked out of office….
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:44 pm
NO NO No. Put a roof on Commonwealth Stadium. We could fill it at most games, the University could own the concessions, ticket sales, and parking. The university should own whatever stadium is built. Much Much Much more money for all athletics if the university owns it.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:47 pm
If any of you want to confirm personally, just call UKED and ask if they have a patient by that name
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:55 pm
whats wrong with patterson?
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:57 pm
38- go stick a boot up your assss
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:59 pm
NEW ARENA STORY http://www.kentucky.com/254/story/209651.html
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:59 pm
#40
Stick one up yours!!!!
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:01 pm
new arena would have to be downtown–could you imagine traffic right on campus
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:12 pm
An on campus arena would be sooo great though. Why do you say traffic would be so bad? The football stadium that holds 70,000 is on campus.
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:15 pm
Although the idea of a new arena sounds tempting, it really needs to be well thought-out before any construction is done. Case-in-point: two arenas in the ACC (N.C. State’s & Maryland’s) both hampered the performance of their team at home in comparison to their prior dwellings (in Maryland’s case, a barn more or less).
Lexington NEEDS something to really attract folks downtown, similar to what San Antonio has in the aforementioned River Walk. Kentucky basketball does not necessarily need a new arena, but Rupp is now 30 years old and it wasn’t exactly built during the apex of architectural design (the ’70’s). The city has tried to put some nice facades out front and back, but it still feels like an old truck with some fancy wheels.
In summation, if they’re going to build something new, really put some thought in it before “just building it”.
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:23 pm
Beans has been discharged
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:24 pm
there is definitely a benefit to the university in helping coordinate a newer, larger arena.
the men’s bball program already contributes over a million dollars a year to the academic scholarship fund at kentucky. adding 5 or 6 thousand more seats would mean that much more money to keep talented students IN KENTUCKY and lure talented students from other parts of the country (once the arena has been paid for, of course), all of which helps UK achieve their “Top 20″ goal.
besides, i go to xavier and i can tell you that ALL OF US who went down to rupp for the tourney game last spring were shocked at how crappy rupp was compared to cintas, which is already more than 5 years old. imagine how rupp will look in another 10 years.
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:27 pm
having gone to Kentucky, I can appreciate that Duke is a bunch of pussies
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:30 pm
nothing wrong with PP, leximann is a gay lier
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:41 pm
I can’t see this happening, what would you due with the arnea when basketball is over? the state can not justify a new arnea in a city the size of Lexington.Not enough dog shows to pay the bills.
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:42 pm
#50 a few Hannah Montana concerts will pay for a new arena.
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:42 pm
#38, you absolutely cannot get patient information from any healthcare provider, it is against the law. The law is called HIPPA, Health INformation Privacy Protection Act.
Hopefully this is all a rumor.
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:44 pm
this is stupid. not one mention of an on campus arena. get your priorities straight, jones. UK is not an urban school and does NOT need another downtown rental gym
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:47 pm
#51 true
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:48 pm
53 I agree
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:48 pm
I heard he was in the hospital with chest pains and EKG changes
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:50 pm
EKG changes? EKG is an electronic machine for checking heart rhythms.
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:51 pm
never mind
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:51 pm
Minimum 5,000 standing room only for students surrounding the WHOLE court. If we can’t fill it up the reduce it. I think we can though and some. Also, EVERY seat in the house other than standing room has to be CHAIR BACK. Other arenas do it. No reason we shouldn’t. If you’re gonna build a new arena do it right!
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:54 pm
No backs makes the fans stand up and cheer instead of lounging like they are in a recliner. Meaning all the old people in the lower level.
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:57 pm
This “real fan” argument is hilarious every time it is thrown out. Simple: Put your money where your mouth is. If you are a “real fan” as you say, write the check to sit in the lower arena. Until then, shhhhh……..quiet. If you think college athletics can exist without someone writing those checks, please go back to Candyland. Simple fact: Student attendance is fickle–sometimes they show and sometimes they don’t.
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:59 pm
It’s especially hard when students are gone over Christmas break. A lot of people haven’t figured that one out yet. The must think student live on campus year round.
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:01 pm
Hey Jules, it is HIPAA and it is the acronym for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:11 pm
If a new gym is built, it will most definitely be downtown. No way they’d build it on-campus. No way.
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:14 pm
61, you find me a seat in the lower leverl that hasnt been bought up by someone that by no means will sle their tickets and most of us woule be happy to put out the cash for it…….but i do agree that we need that money to help our program………im just saying it isnt nearly as simplme as you made it out to be
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:18 pm
63) you beat me to it, but are you sure it’s not “information”?
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:19 pm
Screw this, they want to destroy tradition to make a buck? NO WAY.
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:26 pm
52.
UK exploits a loophole in HIPAA wherein they are able to tell callers whether or not the patient is in the facility and their condition.
56.
You are correct. This is the second time this has happened to him.
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:28 pm
62, A lot of students live in Lexington and don’t go anywhere Christmas break.
As far as not being able to fill up the student section for some games, that’s bullshit. The university instituted a lottery system for the very reason that demand was so high.
And as far as people saying “oh well I support UK athletics the most financially therefore I deserve to sit down close to the court and quilt a blanket for my dear niece who’s turning 57 next Tuesday … ” I think you get my point; and in case you were too thick (or old) to understand that point allow me to reiterate: I AM SICK OF OLD PEOPLE AT RUPP ARENA! You talk about the tradition of UK athletics and how great we once were and blah blah blah, if you would think about how much you have HURT the program within the last 10 years by giving away home-court advantage and turning Rupp arena into an absolute snoozefest (opposing teams can take over a game because it’s so quite with 23,000+ people holding their breath) then maybe you could start being a part of the solution and stop being the problem. THE ONLY PROBLEM.
And as someone else previously mentioned, YOU CAN’T USE THE WRIGLEY FIELD ARGUMENT, because guess what hombres, they ain’t playin’ in Memorial no mo’.
Rupp was an outstanding facility, but here in the 21st century, I daresay we can do better.
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:28 pm
please put all seats with backs! Bleachers suck when you sit next to a fata$$.
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:50 pm
Downtown Lexington has a varity of new and old that is under appreciated. Something like a river walk and a new facility that can blend both attributes would be a great pedestrian answer to the car infested sprawl that chokes the perimeters.
October 23rd, 2007 at 12:12 am
I don’t know why we wouldn’t just go ahead and make a 35,000-40,000 seat arena. There is demand for that many to go to see the UK program, you are guaranteed a high quality product every single year so there is no issue of empty seats…
Why not open the experience of going to a UK game up to everyone that wants to see it?
October 23rd, 2007 at 1:18 am
I live in huntington and try to go to 3or4 games a year at rupp. I think it is the most magical place I have ever been but a larger arena seat wise would be great. Tickets are much more expensive to get now that ebay is so expensive. I would like to see three levels in a new arena with the lower and middle levels chair backs and the top level bleachers. Put the old timers in the middle and give the top and bottom to students and common fans.42000 seats is a great idea if designed properly
October 23rd, 2007 at 1:26 am
YES!!! YES!!!! YES!!!! YES!!!!! YES!!!! YES!!!!! YES!!!!!
Build a new arena and while your at it go ahead and had 10-20 million
more to the brand new 30 million dollar facility, go ahead and build a
new and even better Wildcat Lodge, and get 2 costume made luxuary buses.
YES!!!! YES!!!!! YES!!!!
Is it not only important for UK to have some of the best basketball facilies,
but it is more important to always stay ahead of the competition. Why does
Ohio State always get freakin awesome recruiting classes? Have you ever seen
Ohio States campus and athletic facilities? They are amazing. That has alot
to do with recruiting. UL is able to build basketball facilites that look
very comparable to UKs, without spending the amount of money UK did. So UK
needs to up spend so much more that UL can’t even try to duplicate.
okay back to the new arena issue. Yes, build a new arena but don’t wait.
Do it within the next 3-5 years or sooner if possible. Why wait til UF builds
a new arena, why wait til UT starts filling up there huge arena. UK needs to
build it bigger and better.
What should be considered in building a new arena and why should there be
a new arena?
1) Do the research and figure out how big you can actually make it and
sell out every year. Don’t stop at 25,000 if you can sell 30,000, don’t
stop at 30,000 if you can sell out 40,000.
2) with new eng. tech, a new arena can be twice as big but feel twice as
small for the fan (which helps with visiblity).
3) Put in nice Luxary boxes.
4) build dressing room facilites that NBA teams can’t compete with.
5) don’t just think about a new arena, do it. Make it so big that no college
can even think about building something to compare.
6) Build in such a way where it can also be a shrine to the greatness of
Kentucky basketball. Pay attention to details just like UK did with the
practice facility.
7) enough seats to allow more students to see the games but still make
everyone else happy.
DO IT!!!!!!!!! What are we waiting for. It isn’t enough to keep up with the
times, UK should be defining the times in terms of basketball.
Make it so huge that Dickie V is begging to be apart of the UK program.
October 23rd, 2007 at 1:44 am
What river exactly is this river walk going to be on? No creeks in downtown.
October 23rd, 2007 at 1:56 am
I am a season ticket holder. I get two season tickets every year and I
would not mind giving up my seats for students. After, all it is their
University.
If they are concerned about selling season tickets in a huge arena, well
they shouldn’t. They could fill 30,000 most games and big games they could
sell 40,000 easy.
I already have 2 seasons tickets, If they built a new arena, I would buy
8 more. Just talk to a buddy of mine who has season tickets and he said
he buy 4 more if they built a new arena. I emailed a some buddies, who
are season ticket holders, about this idea and the responses I got so far
have added up to 30 more season tickets.
So in about a 15min span I just sold 42 more tickets for a new arena.
Imagine if every season ticket holder did that. that could easily be another
10,000 tickets at least
Now add all people who are waiting for the right for season tickets. Last
time I heard there was a waiting list of about 15,000 people.
Now add the people who would just buy tickets just to buy them. That has
to be another 5,000 at least
now add another 2,000 students
That is 32,000 extra seats at the miminum.
32,000
+24,000
= 58,000 seats. tickets would still be sold out just like they are now. I doubt
every game would be packed but at least the tickets would be sold out. Showing
up is another thing.
35,000-40,000 seat arena miminum.
Want to talk about Lexington worries about not making money.
1) they would, it might take a while but they would
2) if they sell out a 40,000+ arena year after year after year, so on.
Then the NBA will be knocking at our door and NBA teams who can’t
put 30,000 in the stands will be knocking down Lexington’s door.
and there is your money Lexington.
October 23rd, 2007 at 1:58 am
Gillispie starts winning big time games
30,000+ plus arena
and maybe a NBA team
Gillispie starts picking the recruites he wants and sends everyone else
to the other schools.
October 23rd, 2007 at 2:05 am
Im for this %100. Rupp is one of the worst basketball venues in America (unless UNC, UL, UF or KU is in town) because the real fans are subjugated to the ‘old money’. The student seating is a joke and the lower arena crowd averages 80+ years old, complete with oxygen masks and walkers. And heaven help the under 80 market for non-student fans, poor bastards are so far from the floor even if they’re going nuts in the upper deck it sounds like a low hum court side. Let the fogies have their boxes. Hell, they can have lower arena tickets too- right behind the students ringing the court for the first 5 rows.
The student seating should be at least 5-7000 and maybe up to 10, ring the court and both end zones. Dont give me bullshit about how it wouldnt sell out, the lotteries are PACKED every week. And if the student seating doesnt sell out for winter break or for EKU, open it to the general public and it will. Fogies go in the middle, with special oxygen mask equiped seats and power assisted chairs that prop them up in a standing position when appropriate during the game.
October 23rd, 2007 at 2:17 am
#78 great point. I have lower arena tickets and I want to stand up
the whole game and try to for the most part. What really upsets me
is that when I stand up people around have the nerve to tell me to sit
down. If you go to Cameron Indoor, Phog Allen, and Assembly Hall and you
are sitting down they think something is wrong with you.
Everyone wants to show support for “old” like they think their the only
reason UK has money. I have alot more money than most of them and have
given tons of money to the K-Fund and it still took me 5 years of giving
alot of money to get lower arena tickets.
The fact is there is plenty of adults in their 30-40s who have more money
and simply can’t get tickets becaues the “old” crowd has had them forever.
THE FACT is - the money will be there.
Plus nobody is mentioning the fact that the “old” group (who does have alot
of value and should be respected) would probably prefer to sit in boxes and
be catered too.
Not only should building a new arena be a must, they should do it perfect and right
but as quickly as possible. ie) 4 years
October 23rd, 2007 at 3:48 am
I just hope it’s not named after a damn fast food restaurant like Loserville’s new buildings.
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:41 am
You know that #80!!!!!!
October 23rd, 2007 at 8:31 am
Can Rick take credit for finally getting a new arena built at UK? And can we call it the Pitino Areno?
October 23rd, 2007 at 8:36 am
Why not a new football stadium?
October 23rd, 2007 at 8:45 am
I Hope it happens, I Don’t like Rupp arena and the diehard average fan deserves a chance for decent seats, not these rich horse farmers who show up with more money than sears & jc penny combined…honest truth I Got on the elevator with a women in a full length fur and I ask her what the special ocassion was ? She replied A UK Ball game !! Some of those people are their for a social life and fashion statement! I wear UK Blue NOTHING else !
the golden rule is true ! those who have the gold make the rule!
Try buying one of their seats!! Let those people buy luxury boxes and leave the REAL Fans close to the floor.
October 23rd, 2007 at 9:06 am
#75
There is actually a little tributary that runs under Vine street the entire length of downtown. Im not really sure where it begins and ends, but I can remember them talking about exposing it and closing Vine street for years. But it does exist, thats a fact. While it may not be a river right now, they could make it wide enough for what they’re trying to do.
October 23rd, 2007 at 9:22 am
For those naysayers who think economic development is a “waste” of tax dollars, I agree.
Signed,
Horse and Buggy Manufacturers of America
October 23rd, 2007 at 9:24 am
75/85 Correct, there was a creek running down the center of the city but they covered it over YEARS ago.. It must not have been much.
October 23rd, 2007 at 9:26 am
Number one thing to do would be to dome the stadium,
if not then build a new one east of I-75, near Clark County
with easy access and plenty of parking!
October 23rd, 2007 at 9:30 am
It IS possible to build a 30,000 seat arena that feels more intimate than Rupp Arena. Rupp is one of the most impersonal arenas of it’s size in the country, so by employing the techniques of some better-atmosphere, we can go bigger without losing any feeling, and in fact will gain a little back. The new place needs to be acoustically designed to funnel all sound down to the floor, too.
October 23rd, 2007 at 9:32 am
You went to DUKE?
That had to suck…….
October 23rd, 2007 at 9:53 am
A new state of the art basketball arena would be awesome! And like others have said, get the “blue hair” out of the lower arena seats and put in a students section that surrounds the court. Make it loud and wild!!
October 23rd, 2007 at 10:28 am
If the Cards can have a new arena so can the Cats. For Kentucky fans, the new Louisville arena is all about UL athletics. Sure there will be limited economic development and new events because of the facility, but make no mistake this is about UL. Also, Kentucky fans need to understand that the Fletcher adminstration is providing $100 million direct state funding. UL is also going to have a favorable lease agreement with the arena authority that is going to provide $4,$5 million of additional revenue to UL athletics each year. When was the last time UK athletics got subsidized like this. The new Louisville arena is going to have a total price tag of close to $600 million. It will be the equal or exceed any NBA facility. You bet, Kentucky fans want and need a new facility. Given the site location in Lexington, the cost of would be $300 million with a third coming from the stat. We ought to be in the facility in three years or we have dumb leadership at city hall and at the university. Dan
October 23rd, 2007 at 11:02 am
I’ve been a UK fan all my life and finally made my first journey to
Rupp last year. I had a great time but I must say I was extremely
dissappointed by the energy of the crowd in the lower arena. It was
pitiful. If you are lucky enough to get a good seat, you need to be
on your feet cheering your a$$ off. The rest of the college basketball
world loves and hates UK fans. They talk about the passion. The fans
need to show that passion and scream as loud at the games as they do
on the radio after a loss.
A new stadium would give the university a chance to collect some of the
money the scalpers are making. I thought that was illegal. Where is the
law enforcement? If the average joes didn’t have to pay $200 for a ticket,
they would fill the arena and the money would go to the university.
October 23rd, 2007 at 11:11 am
All you naysayers who are putting down the ” Blue Hairs” must remember that that “Old Money” is what put UK athletics where it is today. You can rest assured that very little of UK’s enormous endowment is earmarked for althetics. (Hence the development of the K-fund, and Blue-White Funds) The fact remains that most of these “Blue-hairs” show up for each and every game; without being intoxicated to the point of puking, I might add.
Having had seats directly next to the student section for years before seating configuration change, Most of the students exhibited behavior that even I would call deplorable.
Kids, GROW UP, Behave like the men and women your parents raised you to be, and maybe……just maybe…….”The Golden Rule” ‘ers will oblige you with aa DUKIE, or TARHEELIAN arrangement!
October 23rd, 2007 at 11:22 am
#92 great points about how UL is getting state funding. Lexington should
be able to get equal but I think UK should get more because UK has been
selling out more and has brought more money to the state than UL. Plus
UK athletics are funded by the K-Fund and money made by athletic, not
by using state funds or student tuition, like UL does. UK should be
rewarded for putting education first because UK doesn’t use state money
or student tuition to fund their athletic programs. UL shouldn’t be
rewarded when they are raising tuition to help fund their athletic program
and using a good chunk of state educational money to fund their athletic
program.
If the state won’t equal the amount of money or give more than they
given UL, then they are sending a wrong message about education.
October 23rd, 2007 at 11:41 am
I think we should quietly build the new arena and not tell the old farts. Picture it…. We leave Rupp standing and furnish each seat row with yarn, for knitting. Sell nice glasses of warm milk at the concession stands, Offer free tennis ball replacements on each walker leg. When they arrive and wonder where the game is We can soothe their anger and disappointment by screening Matlock and Murder, She Wrote reruns on the screens. See? Situation resolved. Your Welcome.
October 23rd, 2007 at 11:57 am
#90 has no imagination so he copies people names. I would say imitation is the sinecerest form of flattery, however this guy is a fool. Not the first time he’s been called out, yet never a response. Just more copy.
Instead of building a new arena, why don’t we show what fiscal responsibility our city, state and University can have for the next 20 years.
Do you have any idea what ticket prices would go to if a new arena was built?
October 23rd, 2007 at 12:00 pm
#75/85/86
If they can build the “cheongye-cheon” river here in downtown Seoul, an urban jungle, I’m pretty sure the good folks back in rural Fayette County can find some way of redirecting some water traffic into Lexington.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/isadoreberg/1289125323/
I’m all for the idea of creating a riverwalk/recreational area alongside a new basketball arena. Too much of Lex is moving out away from downtown..and that’s a damn shame.
October 23rd, 2007 at 12:14 pm
94- at least the student are cheering, not knitting or reading the newspaper. If youre not going to watch the game and cheer, youre taking up space that could be used for a real fan. The students dictate he crowd response, not the lifeless fogies.
Blue hairs are everything that is wrong about UK basketball. No one cares if their money helped us back in the 60’s, there’s is plenty of money today from people with a pulse who would gladly give it for those seats.
October 23rd, 2007 at 12:29 pm
94, nothing wrong with blue hairs being at the game and having a decent seat, however its a shame that we cant’ get our 24000 seat arena as loud as alot of smaller ones around the nation. When ppl can’t stand up and cheer at a game because someone is telling them to sit down, then there is something serious wrong.
October 23rd, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Funny thing about the Arena in Louisville….
they know where to build it, but still can’t decide when and where to build a god dern bridge!
October 23rd, 2007 at 12:46 pm
98) I can see it now April 3, 2016: BCG and the Kentucky Wildcats bring home the 10th NCAA Championship to Lexington…..In a related story, man drowns in downtown Lexington’s Cheong Gye-Cheon wearing only his UK blue.
October 23rd, 2007 at 12:49 pm
I think we should give the blue hairs Mid-level boxes like someone above said. They can read, sew, sleep, or whatever they want and everybody else can stand up and cheer like real fans do.