Mitch Barnhart is meeting with the media today to discuss all things UK Athletics. Presser starts at 2 ET. I'll share the major talking points here...
* As he always does, MB begins by highlighting the success they've had across the board in numerous sports, the numerous conference champions, and teams/athletes that competed for national championships. Most recently, talks about what a great run the baseball team had and how great it was to see fans packing KPP for those regional games, how close the players and coaches were. "The essence of college sports."
* MB says UK is currently ranked 20th in Director's Cup. Baseball is the last sport to be ranked, ending soon. Will wind up 6 straight years inside the Top 20, which is pretty rare in the NCAA.
* Kroger Field's new surface is beautiful. The renovation of Nutter Fieldhouse is expected to be complete by the time the team begins practice in August. The track is gone. The turf is in there wall-to-wall. New lighting. The indoor track and field facility is underway where the old baseball field was at Cliff Hagan Stadium. Memorial Coliseum renovation is underway. Expected to be used for competition in fall of 2024. Will use Rupp Arena and Transy in the meantime for teams that competed at Memorial Coliseum.
* Alcohol trial run went well at Kentucky Proud Park. Fans enjoyed it, no issues. They will now expand beer and seltzer sales at all other UK Athletics events. MB later clarifies that it will be ready to begin for the first home football game. Not just a revenue decision, he later adds. Fan experience has been mentioned a lot. "It's not a financial decision for us... Even if we make some money from it, it's not going to be a life-changing experience. Not going to be the driver of what we do."
* MB talks about his recent trip to Washington, D.C., along with UK basketball coach John Calipari to discuss the NIL situation in college sports. Asked for some legislation to standardize the issue. "Right now, you have 50 states doing it 50 different ways." Reiterates that he likes what NIL can offer student-athletes but it's never intended to be "pay for play." Two years into this, no clarity yet, getting more muddled as it goes.
* 37,000 season tickets for UK football, closing in on 38,000. That's what they had for last year, so should surpass that.
* Perhaps in an effort to calm fans on the UK men's basketball front, Barnhart notes that roster builds are getting later and later with each passing year. Part of the process now.
* Asked about the away game scheduled to be played at Akron in 2024, MB says that's the current contract, but the goal is always to shoot for eight home games if possible. Still some work to be done to finalize the situation.
* MB adds that he's a major proponent of keeping the SEC schedule at 8 games. To throw in 9 and to have another game against Louisville, it's a challenge and can take a physical toll on the players. You don't need 9 to have everyone in the league see each other more frequently, he says.
* Asked if he or the University has a position on further expansion of the league, MB says he likes what it has done for the conference and "we're in a really good spot." Anxious to let the Texas and Oklahoma additions settle in for a while before moving on to further expansion talk. Notes that Texas is going to finish 2nd in Director's Cup after winning it last year. Notes Oklahoma's softball power and good depth added to league with football and basketball. Great fan bases. Says he's hoping the SEC will set it up where maybe they get to eventually come to Lexington in October while Keeneland is going on.
* Asked about SOS... Barnhart says 8 has never hurt anyone in the league. And UK's had a strong schedule at 8 themselves.
* Asked about Aaron Bradshaw's foot issue, Barnhart says he knows that there's a report out there on that, but he's recognizing medical privacy on it.
* On new basketball facilities... MB says it's all in line with the program's master plan. Those projects have to be completed, but "we're always thoughtful about where we're trying to go in the future." Talking with Cal and making sure he's part of those conversations.
* Asked about sports gambling moving forward in Kentucky, MB says it's a "great concern," but they have people hired specifically to educate and monitor the situation. One of their people comes with great background in agents and gambling.
* As he always does, MB begins by highlighting the success they've had across the board in numerous sports, the numerous conference champions, and teams/athletes that competed for national championships. Most recently, talks about what a great run the baseball team had and how great it was to see fans packing KPP for those regional games, how close the players and coaches were. "The essence of college sports."
* MB says UK is currently ranked 20th in Director's Cup. Baseball is the last sport to be ranked, ending soon. Will wind up 6 straight years inside the Top 20, which is pretty rare in the NCAA.
* Kroger Field's new surface is beautiful. The renovation of Nutter Fieldhouse is expected to be complete by the time the team begins practice in August. The track is gone. The turf is in there wall-to-wall. New lighting. The indoor track and field facility is underway where the old baseball field was at Cliff Hagan Stadium. Memorial Coliseum renovation is underway. Expected to be used for competition in fall of 2024. Will use Rupp Arena and Transy in the meantime for teams that competed at Memorial Coliseum.
* Alcohol trial run went well at Kentucky Proud Park. Fans enjoyed it, no issues. They will now expand beer and seltzer sales at all other UK Athletics events. MB later clarifies that it will be ready to begin for the first home football game. Not just a revenue decision, he later adds. Fan experience has been mentioned a lot. "It's not a financial decision for us... Even if we make some money from it, it's not going to be a life-changing experience. Not going to be the driver of what we do."
* MB talks about his recent trip to Washington, D.C., along with UK basketball coach John Calipari to discuss the NIL situation in college sports. Asked for some legislation to standardize the issue. "Right now, you have 50 states doing it 50 different ways." Reiterates that he likes what NIL can offer student-athletes but it's never intended to be "pay for play." Two years into this, no clarity yet, getting more muddled as it goes.
* 37,000 season tickets for UK football, closing in on 38,000. That's what they had for last year, so should surpass that.
* Perhaps in an effort to calm fans on the UK men's basketball front, Barnhart notes that roster builds are getting later and later with each passing year. Part of the process now.
* Asked about the away game scheduled to be played at Akron in 2024, MB says that's the current contract, but the goal is always to shoot for eight home games if possible. Still some work to be done to finalize the situation.
* MB adds that he's a major proponent of keeping the SEC schedule at 8 games. To throw in 9 and to have another game against Louisville, it's a challenge and can take a physical toll on the players. You don't need 9 to have everyone in the league see each other more frequently, he says.
* Asked if he or the University has a position on further expansion of the league, MB says he likes what it has done for the conference and "we're in a really good spot." Anxious to let the Texas and Oklahoma additions settle in for a while before moving on to further expansion talk. Notes that Texas is going to finish 2nd in Director's Cup after winning it last year. Notes Oklahoma's softball power and good depth added to league with football and basketball. Great fan bases. Says he's hoping the SEC will set it up where maybe they get to eventually come to Lexington in October while Keeneland is going on.
* Asked about SOS... Barnhart says 8 has never hurt anyone in the league. And UK's had a strong schedule at 8 themselves.
* Asked about Aaron Bradshaw's foot issue, Barnhart says he knows that there's a report out there on that, but he's recognizing medical privacy on it.
* On new basketball facilities... MB says it's all in line with the program's master plan. Those projects have to be completed, but "we're always thoughtful about where we're trying to go in the future." Talking with Cal and making sure he's part of those conversations.
* Asked about sports gambling moving forward in Kentucky, MB says it's a "great concern," but they have people hired specifically to educate and monitor the situation. One of their people comes with great background in agents and gambling.
