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#BBMcampout HQ: Capacity Reached as Tent Count Hits 295

#BBMcampout HQ: Capacity Reached as Tent Count Hits 295

by Guy Ramsey

This post will be updated frequently this week with the latest from the 2017 Big Blue Madness campout, with videos, photos, and, of course, official tent counts.

**Capacity at the Big Blue Madness campout has been reached. No new campers will be able to set up and fans are encouraged to use Ticketmaster.com to acquire tickets to Big Blue Madness.**
 
9 a.m. Thursday — Campout capacity reached

With new tents moving in overnight, capacity has been reached at the 2017 Big Blue Madness campout. As a result, no new campers will be able to set up and no control cards for free tickets to the annual event will be issued to those not already camped out. Fans are encouraged to use Ticketmaster.com to acquire tickets to the first open practice opportunity for UK’s 2017-18 men’s and women’s basketball teams.

Though capacity has been reached, there’s lots of fun ahead at the campout on Thursday. Visits from both the Kentucky men’s and women’s basketball teams are expected, plus the UK Sports Network will once again produce live video stream coverage of the campout with the airing of “Tent City Live.” Broadcasting from the Coca-Cola Stage, located outside the Joe Craft Center and Wildcat Coal Lodge, the live stream will air Thursday, Sept. 28 from 8-9:30 p.m. ET on UKathletics.com/tentcitylive and live on the Kentucky men’s basketball Facebook page. Fans can also tune in to 630 WLAP-AM to listen to the radio broadcast of the show.
 
Rex Chapman and Dave Baker return as hosts for the show and special guests will join throughout the evening, including former UK men’s basketball players Kenny Walker and Heshimu Evans, for a night of interviews and roundtable discussions previewing the upcoming season. Members of the UK women’s basketball team also will visit the set to preview their season. Fans are encouraged to submit questions and comments for the hosts and guests to the UK Sports Network via Twitter at @UKRadioNetwork to be answered on the live stream.

4 p.m. Wednesday — Tent count rises to 285
 
The population of Tent City continues to grow.
 
A little over a dozen new tents have popped up during the first day of the Big Blue Madness campout, bringing the total to approximately 285 tents as of 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The growth is taking place on the Rose Street side of the Wildcat Coal Lodge.

Campers were treated to a visit from the Kentucky volleyball team. The No. 10 Wildcats took time out of their preparations for a trip to Mississippi State on Sunday to make a much-appreciated food delivery.

 
All in all, it’s been a beautiful first day at the campout, if a little warm. New campers are expected to arrive on Wednesday evening, so stay tuned for an updated count on Thursday morning and any other fun happenings in the meantime.
 

9:15 a.m. Wednesday — First tent count at approx. 270
 
Things are quiet around the Big Blue Madness campout, with most recovering a very early morning. As of 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday morning, the initial rush of campers has completed tent setup. With that, approximately 270 tents have encircled Memorial Coliseum and Joe Craft Center waiting for tickets to the first glimpse of this year’s men’s and women’s basketball teams at Big Blue Madness.
 
Once campers get their rest, there’s excitement ahead. The stage is currently being set for Thursday’s Tent City Live broadcast, which will air from 8-9:30 p.m. Visits from various UK teams are also expected over the course of the campout, which culminates in ticket distribution on Friday.
 

7 a.m. Wednesday — It all begins
 
The 2017 edition of the campout for tickets to Big Blue Madness has begun.
 
Camping areas surrounding Memorial Coliseum and the Joe Craft Center opened at 5 a.m., with fans racing to the most prized real estate. Tents immediately began to pop up in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.
 
Kentucky Wildcats TV was of course there to document the proceedings.
 

 
After sunrise (and well-deserved naps for many of the campers), we will have our first tent count of the week. Stay tuned, and happy camping!
 

 

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