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Rupp Arena: can we tear it down already?

This is from last year.

"Named for 41-year and 4-time National Champion coach Adolph Rupp, this 23,000 seat venue in downtown Lexington, Kentucky, routinely draws over 24,000 spectators for marquee matchups. The eight NCAA Championship banners hanging from the rafters greet all fans as they enter Rupp Arena and provide a reminder of the history and tradition of the Kentucky basketball program."
 
crowd expected a blowout. so did we. so did america for that matter. this vandy squad was not going to get a nutty crowd. that's just how it goes. tear rupp down because we missed some free throws?
 
simple solutions, replace berta in the center with a proper score board, and put led strip around the arena just like what they did to commonwealth.
 
Originally posted by It'saDoneDeal:
Calm down everybody, I'm sure they'll serve ice cream at the new arena too.

Look, I'm not denying that Rupp can provide a great big game atmosphere a handful of times a year, but it's simply not consistently as beneficial to our teams as a home court advantage as they deserve, certainly not when compared to other home crowd environments that the other major D1 basketball schools enjoy. It's just not. I don't feel any real nostalgia when I go there, the sight lines are not good in way too many areas, and a lot of factors explain the dead crowds -- some of which can be blamed on the arena set up itself and location. I'm over it.
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Please elaborate on how a different building would create this imposing home court atmosphere you speak of.
I've never sat in any seat in Rupp where I couldn't see the action. So, unless you're a Hobbit I can't see the "sight line" issue. Nostalgia? Were you born in the late 90's? There have been hundreds of great moments in Rupp. Visit Jon Scott's website to read about them.
Until then...I'm over you.
 
I dont know now but their was a time during Tubby were the team hardly ever practiced in Rupp. I remember one month that the team was run out by 2 concerts, monster trucks, and lastly Ice Capades. Dont know about now.
 
It's not Rupp. It's the fans. We're spoiled rotten. We expect to blowout punk-filled teams like Vandy. And when that doesn't happen, you can hear crickets in the building.

But I will say that our crowds at neutral venues are always better than at Rupp. Blue hairs stay home. More energetic fans travel. But there's no way around it. I suppose we could use electric shock devices in their seats to get them up off their butts.
 
Originally posted by W2R:
cal is 96% in Rupp
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Exactly. Maybe if the students jumped up and down and chanted the entire game like they do at other places, then maybe UK could win more home games.

These post always crack me up. Regardless of what someone thinks about Rupp's environment, UK has just as good or a better home winning% than these other teams that supposedly have a so called better home environment.
 
I was at the game, crowd was very loud at times,OP probably could not hear it from his mom's basement.

This post was edited on 1/21 1:02 AM by capnmonkey
 
Threads like this scream, I am not a Kentucky fan. I am just here to start fighting because I have nothing better to do.
 
Originally posted by Players-first-the-only-way:
Yall can be mad at the OP all you want. But he speaks the truth. It's the quietest gym in America. Time to ge the old farts out and more students in. Fans at Alabama were louder.
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^ Not even remotely true. Watch some of the other SEC games and notice how half full or empty the arenas are.

Next time UCLA is playing at home, look at how many lowers are empty.

Now if you want to compare to Cameron Indoor, yes its not even close IMO on average which one is louder. You know why? Its half the size and nearly half the allotment goes to students. They are generally louder, and in a smaller confined space it is even more noticeable. It is a very intimidating environment. What are going to do, make arena smaller? Make it so only students get lowers and push the rest of the fan base that, most times, have supported it even longer away?

You know why Rupp Arena was built as big as it was? Because it was KNOWN our fan base would consistently fill it. Not just the student section, you are talking about the retired people that has more knowledge then 90% of this board who had been fans for decades. You are talking fathers and mothers and families bringing their children to the game because they are growing up in this culture. Friends and families that grew up together bleeding blue going to games. We might not always be as loud as everyone, but we are when it matters. And I dare you to find another fan base that CARES more.

So no, I am not willing to exchange our identity for a couple of decibels. Its what got us to where we are now, and last I checked it pretty damned good place to be.

BTW: Someone needs to re-watch that Alabama game and count how many cheers of go BIG Blue there are. We were their best chance of infamy if they won. How often do you get a chance to upset the top dog. Go watch their other games and see how loud it is in comparison.

This post was edited on 1/21 6:59 AM by Havek
 
Originally posted by Players-first-the-only-way:
Yall can be mad at the OP all you want. But he speaks the truth. It's the quietest gym in America. Time to ge the old farts out and more students in. Fans at Alabama were louder.
Click to expand...
Whenever either Rupp is renovated or a new arena is built you can 100% be guaranteed that "old farts" will have all of the best seats because only the "old farts" will be able to afford them. That is the economic reality.
More students in? Perhaps when students start picking up their full allotment of tickets you can start talking about them getting more. Until then, that's a silly proposition.
 
"can we tear it down already"

just as soon as we tack on a student fee of $2K a year.
 
So you want a new arena? Just add this...

Series-1980s-Lot-CU-1.jpg
 
Originally posted by Players-first-the-only-way:
Yall can be mad at the OP all you want. But he speaks the truth. It's the quietest gym in America. Time to ge the old farts out and more students in. Fans at Alabama were louder.
Click to expand...
Just in the past seven days I watched Duke and UL take a beating on their home courts. It was so quiet in Cameron and the Yum that the fans might as well have not been there.

And, having been to most of the games this year, the rupp crowd is good but not great. As discussed many times before, it only seems quiet on TV, meaning that people that come into these threads and complain about the crowd generally have never been to the game.
 
I was at the game and thought the crowd was pretty good. If you're "over it", then don't go. Simple enough. The team won't miss you.
 
A few years ago I went to the 2nd round of the ncaa tournament at rupp arena. I watched marquette, down by 1 point with like 7 seconds on the clock, they get the ball to their guard and he runs like heck to the basket and scores. I paid less than $40 for the ticket to the games.....I was center court upper level, about 7 rows up.....it was loud before marquette scored...in the whole arena. when the layup went in and the horn went off.....there was pure silence across the arena... no one could believe marquette made that shot to win the game.....it was an awesome game.

No one should even think about tearing rupp down, without considering the memories made there.

UK has a great arena. period.
 
Originally posted by Players-first-the-only-way:
Yall can be mad at the OP all you want. But he speaks the truth. It's the quietest gym in America. Time to ge the old farts out and more students in. Fans at Alabama were louder.
Click to expand...

Alabama never sells out a basketball game unless the CATS come to town. I have seen BAMA play several times this year and attendance is poor. There were probably 5k UK fans at that game. I heard GBB chants throughout the whole game while watching on TV. No roll tide chants. Uk fans who cant get tickets at Rupp. Kentucky has the problem of having too many fans not having great facilities. I think other SEC schools come out and watch UK players and get a Tshirt. How do you propose to get the old farts out? They will pay for the season tickets without batting an eye. UK will take their $ all day long 24/7. Cal will have them redo Rupp and all will be well.
 
Originally posted by Players-first-the-only-way:
Yall can be mad at the OP all you want. But he speaks the truth. It's the quietest gym in America. Time to ge the old farts out and more students in. Fans at Alabama were louder.
Click to expand...
It should be illegal for any person over 65 to attend games at Rupp Arena. They sleep during the games most of the time. Never cheer. Spend their money. They stay on their I-phones all of the time ......... no, that's those young sumbritches.
 
Can't believe someone said that Rupp Arena was not a historic or nostalgic site! Blame it on the fans not the building!
 
The Arena isn't the problem. The fan's aren't either, really, and there are reasons why. Fans here are a product of a culture of success lasting for decades. The legacy crowd, that being the decades-long season ticket holders, come to the games to be entertained. They also come to analyze. There is an air of expectation present in every game. To be fair, big games, and moments in other games, can be very special in Rupp but only because the majority of the legacy crowd is being pleased or entertained at a high level. The expectations are so high among the fan base that only special moments get special praise. But this praise won't often be offered without cause. And, of course, there's always the non-season ticket holders and others that get the occasional ticket that really, really appreciate the occasion and cheer no matter what because they are having a great time just being there. Sadly, I've seen these boisterous fans asked to sit down - numerous times.

The majority of arenas throughout the country are filled with less serious less devoted fans just wanting to have a good time. Not here though. The air of expectation, even aristocracy, looming in Rupp dampens the joy of just being there for many. Dare I suggest it's all taken too seriously by many of these legacy fans? I'll also suggest that often our teams don't play to their potential at Rupp because of the atmosphere of expectation. You can really make that case this year. The kids know they are under one of the biggest microscopes in sports and play tight. If things are going well, then it's all fun and they play loose. If not, they must feel like ants under a microscope on a sunny day. But, for big games, the fans come in wanting blood and cut loose making Rupp one of the best environments there are. Unfortunately, that's not always the case for the rest of the schedule. But there are good reasons for it.
 
Originally posted by It'saDoneDeal:
Calm down everybody, I'm sure they'll serve ice cream at the new arena too.

Look, I'm not denying that Rupp can provide a great big game atmosphere a handful of times a year, but it's simply not consistently as beneficial to our teams as a home court advantage as they deserve, certainly not when compared to other home crowd environments that the other major D1 basketball schools enjoy. It's just not. I don't feel any real nostalgia when I go there, the sight lines are not good in way too many areas, and a lot of factors explain the dead crowds -- some of which can be blamed on the arena set up itself and location. I'm over it.
Click to expand...
ahhh, truth comes out. Let UK cater to YOU!
 
Great first post Ole Poop.
Originally posted by Ole Poop:
The Arena isn't the problem. The fan's aren't either, really, and there are reasons why. Fans here are a product of a culture of success lasting for decades. The legacy crowd, that being the decades-long season ticket holders, come to the games to be entertained. They also come to analyze. There is an air of expectation present in every game. To be fair, big games, and moments in other games, can be very special in Rupp but only because the majority of the legacy crowd is being pleased or entertained at a high level. The expectations are so high among the fan base that only special moments get special praise. But this praise won't often be offered without cause. And, of course, there's always the non-season ticket holders and others that get the occasional ticket that really, really appreciate the occasion and cheer no matter what because they are having a great time just being there. Sadly, I've seen these boisterous fans asked to sit down - numerous times.

The majority of arenas throughout the country are filled with less serious less devoted fans just wanting to have a good time. Not here though. The air of expectation, even aristocracy, looming in Rupp dampens the joy of just being there for many. Dare I suggest it's all taken too seriously by many of these legacy fans? I'll also suggest that often our teams don't play to their potential at Rupp because of the atmosphere of expectation. You can really make that case this year. The kids know they are under one of the biggest microscopes in sports and play tight. If things are going well, then it's all fun and they play loose. If not, they must feel like ants under a microscope on a sunny day. But, for big games, the fans come in wanting blood and cut loose making Rupp one of the best environments there are. Unfortunately, that's not always the case for the rest of the schedule. But there are good reasons for it.
Click to expand...
 
1. Not with tax $
2. Not with money that could be better spent on Football

Arena has little to do with the atmosphere. No fan base in the country would get excited about SEC teams other than exception of fla, maybe lsu or arkansas when they are having a decent season.
 
Some simple upgrades would help such as a new center court scoreboard and electronic ribbon display around the arena (not that fake one we have now). Maybe dust off duct work as well while they are at it.

Do that and it would help a ton with the overall look/feel.
 
I agree with Ole poop. The question is, what can be done about it? I think the AD needs to find a way to infuse some more enthusiasm into the lower section.
 
A question. If it's the old folks not cheering, then how come you can't hear the student section cheering when it's quiet? Extremely funny when it's that quiet, it's the old people fault. In watching the game on TV, it looks like the great seats are taken by 40, to 50 year olds. Haven't seen to many blue hairs lately. But, have UK kick them out, and get all you young guys to donate 25,000 or so a year. I'd like to know how many of you all have been to another arena, when UK wasn't playing. That's why it's loud then. If Bama is playing Missouri, it won't be a sell out, or loud.
 
96-4 enough said...my guess it's just jealousy coming out against the people that can afford the good seats...work your asses off and you sit down there some day
 
Originally posted by It'saDoneDeal:
Can we tear down this place and get a new arena ASAP?

Is there a worse home arena/environment for a major basketball powerhouse than Rupp Arena? I honestly don't think so. We don't practice there, visiting teams routinely come in and play out of their minds while our fans sit on their hands, and it's not like it's some historic landmark worth preserving. I'm over it. The money this program brings in? The team deserves much better.
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It is not the arena. The arena does not make noise. The fans make the noise. Get a life. What a ridiculous post.
 
Rupp is a weak environment for 25k , our program has had enough talent that it doesn't cost us games very often . It's a big game only crowd , I think laziness , age , seating arrangement and obesity are the primary reasons for dead environments during non marquee games . It can't be fixed however and that's fine but dont act like its a vi rant crowd . It's a golf crowd , oh look a goodie clap clap .
 
I agree with this. Definitely a golf crowd a lot of the time.

But I doubt anything will ever change that. We as UK fans are extremely spoiled with success. If it's not a huge or close game, it seems almost routine so that's the way the crowd will act. UK isn't having a great season for the first or second time. Any extremely successful program has a similar game environment for your typical game. After attending other games at big time basketball schools, I would argue UK has a better game to game atmosphere than most. Bottom line, we aren't some "up and coming" program having an abnormally good season and fans are going nuts because they finally get to cheer for something great. We have been cheering for something great for a long time, so day to day excitement is more even keel.

Now about Rupp, I would love to see it renovated at the least. It's out dated and kind of crummy in some ways. Or maybe my perception is skewed after being in pro arenas more lately. Either way an update isn't going to hurt anything. And truth is, it won't change the environment some like to complain about.

And no students need more/better seats please. Sometimes they don't show up and are just as quiet as everyone else. Blue hair vs. student argument is ridiculous.
 
Wish more people would realize this its the alumni and boosters who pays Coach Cal's salary without that..we have someone like Gillispie still
 
I like the Bama example. Of course it was electric. UK was in town. You need to do two things to put this into perspective. First, go to a Bama home game when they are playing an average Vandy team. Compare that atmosphere with what we had at Rupp last night. Next, go to a game in Rupp when we play against a highly ranked top 5 opponent like UofL or UNC. Compare that experience to the atmosphere anywhere. Rupp is a top 5 venue to see a college game. You just can't compare our average run of the mill game to the biggest game of the year everywhere else.
 
Originally posted by fuzz77:


Originally posted by Players-first-the-only-way:
Yall can be mad at the OP all you want. But he speaks the truth. It's the quietest gym in America. Time to ge the old farts out and more students in. Fans at Alabama were louder.
Click to expand...
Whenever either Rupp is renovated or a new arena is built you can 100% be guaranteed that "old farts" will have all of the best seats because only the "old farts" will be able to afford them. That is the economic reality.
More students in? Perhaps when students start picking up their full allotment of tickets you can start talking about them getting more. Until then, that's a silly proposition.
Click to expand...
THIS
 
Originally posted by jman3715:

Some simple upgrades would help such as a new center court scoreboard and electronic ribbon display around the arena (not that fake one we have now). Maybe dust off duct work as well while they are at it.

Do that and it would help a ton with the overall look/feel.
Click to expand...
And seat back for the upper level...

$10M-$15M for all that? (I have no idea)
 
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