![]() ![]() Rupp Arena is named for Adoph Rupp, the famous University of Kentucky basketball coach whose sustained success in the mid-20th century turned the program into the powerhouse it remains today. Now the campus is debating whether that name should be changed. The upper level has 10,500 seats with new chairback seats in sections 211-217 and 228-234.The Kentucky Wildcats have dominated the competition playing at Rupp Arena, named after U.K.'s most famous coach: Adolph Rupp. The lower level features 10,000 cushioned theater seats. Starting in 2016, Rupp Arena hosted three straight NCAA women’s regional rounds.Īn awesome structure in sight and scope, the arena is divided into two seating areas. On numerous other occasions, the arena has served as one stop en route to the NCAA title game. In 1986, Rupp played host to both the SEC Tournament and the NCAA Women’s Final Four. In March of 1985, all roads led to Lexington for the NCAA Final Four as Villanova shocked Georgetown in a memorable finale. Situated in downtown Lexington, Rupp Arena has played host to several premier basketball events. The floor can be removed and an ice rink can be constructed for ice shows or hockey games thanks to a $2.5 million renovation during the summer of 1996.īut the playing surface is just one aspect of the impressive home of the Cats. ![]() When assembled, the court lies 118 feet below the ceiling and is made of a high-grade northern maple. Midcourt of the old floor rests in the main entrance of the Lexington Center. Thanks to an auction of additional sections, like coaching boxes and lettered end zones, the old floor generated more than $250,000. Therefore, officials made pieces of the relic available for public sale, with proceeds going to the UK Basketball Museum, the KHSAA and to help offset the costs of the new playing floor. With so many unforgettable moments, the old floor still maintained a value to hoop fans across the Bluegrass and beyond. It has played host to more than 600 UK games, more than 30 KHSAA Sweet Sixteens, a number of NBA exhibitions, 12 Men’s NCAA Tournaments, three Southeastern Conference Tournaments and two Ohio Valley Conference Tournaments.Ī new floor was installed in 2001. Thirteen seasons have witnessed the Cats go unbeaten at home. Six others have advanced to the Final Four. Since the fall of 1976, the arena in downtown Lexington has served as home to four national championship teams at Kentucky. There is also a recruiting room that is available to all 22 sports at the University of Kentucky. It has its own kitchen and dining area, as well as hot and cold tubs inlaid with the UK logo. Funded with private donations, the facility features the actual floor from the 2012 championship game. Chair-back seating in the upper-level sideline was installed in sections 211-217 and 228-234 for the 2019-20 season. Club areas were available to season ticket holders starting with the 2020-21 season.Īfter renovations, Rupp Arena seats 20,500.įollowing the 2012 season, the Wildcats received a $3.1 million renovation to their locker room. Replaced static ad panels in lower four corners of the arena with LED ad panelsĪdditional renovations are in store for college basketball’s premier arena as a part of UK’s new leasing agreement with the Lexington Center.Replaced LED scorer’s table with 6mm version and moved the old 10mm scorer’s table to the opposite side of the floor for radio broadcast seating.Added press box seating to the east side of the arena. ![]()
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