What? UK has to pay to play in Rupp

[Kybluedude]

What's going on? UK agrees to pay Lexington Center 1.9 million per year for 28 events in Rupp. Didn't UK pull out a copy of UL's lease with Louisville's Yum Center? Mitch should have waved that contract and asked why can't UK get the same lease? Isn't it standard operating procedure? At least discuss it publically to bring that Yum fiasco to the attention of all state lawmakers. UK paying 28 million over the contract period while UL as a tenant pulls a minimum of 12 million per year in revenue. Not real equitable in comparison. UK cooperates with Rupp while UL crafts a tax payer fleece lease. And nobody does anything to protect Metro Lou tax payers. Mayor has pledged 10 million a year indefinitely in tax revenue to help out Yum. Kudos to UK for negotiating in good faith.

 

[BlueSince92]

The whole situation with UL's gym is a perfect example of why G.K. Chesterton wrote, "It is terrible to contemplate how few politicians are hanged."

 

[wildcatsboston1984]

Univ. of Kentucky does not own Rupp Arena. Therefore, the standard operating procedure is to pay rent to use it. This is how the world has worked for a long time now.

 

[TnRustyCAT]

What's going on? UK agrees to pay Lexington Center 1.9 million per year for 28 events in Rupp. Didn't UK pull out a copy of UL's lease with Louisville's Yum Center? Mitch should have waved that contract and asked why can't UK get the same lease? Isn't it standard operating procedure? At least discuss it publically to bring that Yum fiasco to the attention of all state lawmakers. UK paying 28 million over the contract period while UL as a tenant pulls a minimum of 12 million per year in revenue. Not real equitable in comparison. UK cooperates with Rupp while UL crafts a tax payer fleece lease. And nobody does anything to protect Metro Lou tax payers. Mayor has pledged 10 million a year indefinitely in tax revenue to help out Yum. Kudos to UK for negotiating in good faith.

They have always had to PAY TO PLAY IN RUPP!!! I think it's a HUGE disadvantage for UK'S home game's. The only practice in Rupp is before each game, and that has always been a concern to me! The money made, or paid to WHOM owns the arena could have paid for a new on campus arena, and what UK has earned for playing, or winning the SEC for all those, and the up coming seasons should benefit UK instead of the PAY TO PLAY DEAD!! SILLY, IMOPO...... Go back to playing at Memorial, and revamp to hold several more thousand fan's??????

 

[Supafuzz75]

UK shouldn't have to pay a dime to use Rupp.. Reason I've always wanted an on campus arena just for UK sports..

 

[Blueworld_3.0]

They have always had to PAY TO PLAY IN RUPP!!! I think it's a HUGE disadvantage for UK'S home game's. The only practice in Rupp is before each game, and that has always been a concern to me! The money made, or paid to WHOM owns the arena could have paid for a new on campus arena, and what UK has earned for playing, or winning the SEC for all those, and the up coming seasons should benefit UK instead of the PAY TO PLAY DEAD!! SILLY, IMOPO...... Go back to playing at Memorial, and revamp to hold several more thousand fan's??????

Uh, the City of Lexington owns Rupp Arena. It was built to be the home of the Kentucky Wildcats. UK is a tenant or customer. It only stands to reason that UK would have to pay something to occupy the space. At the time the facility was built, UK had no interest in building and managing such a facility but, it did agree to play home games there. Otherwise I seriously doubt Rupp would have ever been built.
UK will never return to playing in Memorial. NEVER. The facility is outdated, undersized...only seats approx. 8800 now and basically not capable of doing a season's worth of games.
So, there are two options, build a new $400 million on-campus facility or sign a new lease with the LCC and stay in Rupp. Funding isn't there for a new arena and the LCC actually made several concessions to UK regarding revenue in the new lease's memorandum of understanding.
No brainer.

 

[chroix]

I'm just guessing but I'd bet in 15 years there will be a new stadium either on or off campus in Lexington.

 

[Kuhldaddy]

They have always had to PAY TO PLAY IN RUPP!!! I think it's a HUGE disadvantage for UK'S home game's. The only practice in Rupp is before each game, and that has always been a concern to me! The money made, or paid to WHOM owns the arena could have paid for a new on campus arena, and what UK has earned for playing, or winning the SEC for all those, and the up coming seasons should benefit UK instead of the PAY TO PLAY DEAD!! SILLY, IMOPO...... Go back to playing at Memorial, and revamp to hold several more thousand fan's??????

I think a nearly 90 percent winning percentage shows it's not a HUGE disadvantage

 

[anon_q409idbs5m40a]

I don't know what it's like now but years ago UK could not even practice in Rupp due to some sort of restriction by the City. They were only allowed as much practice time as visiting teams the day prior to a game.

 

[sobecat]

The city is not an enemy. We all, well not me I live in Atlanta, benefit from it. It doesn't bother me as a UK alum. I consider Lex a second (maybe third) home.