Aug 16, 2013

LEXINGTON, Ky. – For the eighth straight season and the 17th time in the last 18 years, the Big Blue Nation showed that its appetite for basketball cannot be matched as Kentucky claimed the 2013 Division I basketball attendance title.

A total of 415,775 fans watched the Cats post a 16-2 mark in Rupp Arena during the 2012-13 season, culminating in a national best average of 23,099.

The number marked the fourth straight year in the John Calipari era that UK has averaged more than 23,000 fans.

UK edged Syracuse (22,439), Louisville (21,571), North Carolina (19,350) and Indiana (17,412) for the top spot. Rounding out the top 10 were Creighton, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Ohio State and Kansas.

Since Rupp Arena opened for the 1976-77 season, UK has ranked either first or second in attendance every season. Only Syracuse has ranked ahead of Kentucky during that time.