Agree that the size and types of people, along with the sheer history of Kentucky basketball vs. Auburn's, and also know that the $$ will always win out over putting students along the court. But I've been to four games this year at Rupp - and while there were some loud moments, it blows my mind how quickly we can go from loud to church mice. And I did observe those lower side sections throughout each game. While people do get up, it's hit or miss and usually takes some poking/prodding. It's like some of them just don't want to get up - they just want to sit with their hands folded and watch.
That's why they have a home court advantage and UK does not.
Entitlement. They want to sit and watch like they're at the movies or a Broadway show. They want to be entertained not involved.
More like payday loan money.
Kansas and Duke do not have this issue
I agree totally and one would think UK would have some control over it. I'm sure the extra money UK gets from putting only rich people in those seats pales in comparison to tv and licensing money so I can't figure out why UK does it this way unless they are so short term greedy they can't leave any penny laying on the ground.
Give them a reason to leave those seats...I can't think of a better reason than luxury suites filled with the finest bourbons in the state. Problem is Brainfart is a stick in the mud and would prefer we remain closer to a Sunday School class than rabid environment.
Face value for those seats go for a lot more than that...especially when factoring in the annual K Fund required to even purchase them. Plus, you can no longer claim and deduct K Fund from your taxes as a business expense...that's when the great skedaddle of STH'ers started.
That's the problem, too much greed; a certain # of students should get in free and near courtside, imo. It's been over 45 years since I attended a game as a student and I don't remember paying. Maybe it's because of a faulty old memory or maybe because I always got nosebleeds.
Last I knew they were like $5 or something...first come, first seated...or stand in ERZ
Build a bunch of mini-suites (4 people maybe) - it doesn’t even matter if you can see the floor from the suites, charge an obscene annual amount for them, and then promote the suites like it's the next "must have" thing (e.g., fawningly identify those that buy those suites on Facebook, etc.). And voila, suddenly the lower arena will open up and contain fewer of a certain kind of “fan.”
This is the problem the crowd is only nuts when winning big. They are not nuts when we are losing and need the crowd to turn the game around. It will never be that way at Kentucky just have to live with it.
Yep. Build nice boxes and suites that they can have first class catering in. Get enough of them to buy into it to be able to clear one sideline of a minimum of 5 rows. (This also opens up floor seats in an endzone they can opt for for a cheaper price and maybe include some level of service there as well.
Crowd is loudest when the opposing player is shooting free throws for a free Chicken Biscuit from Chik Fila.
