Rupp Arena is near and dear to all of us. Not only has it been home to the greatest tradition in college basketball for more than four decades, it is also a place that where countless memories have been made. I know those memories are special to you, just as they are to me.
Today, alongside the Lexington Center Corporation, we are in the midst of an important time for Rupp Arena, as we seek to build on the legacy of this great venue. Already you have seen steps taken toward modernizing Rupp, with new ribbon boards and a center-hung scoreboard that have created a more dynamic game experience and the painting of ceiling ductwork Kentucky blue. The next phase of that effort is now here, as the Lexington Center is preparing for the replacement of bleachers with chair-back seating in the upper-level sideline sections 211-217 and 228-234. We have heard from fans for many years about the need to add more comfortable seating in the upper level and we are pleased this feedback will be answered in a meaningful way.
The change will be significant, as the number of sections, rows and seats and the amount of space at each seat will be different. Make no mistake: Backs are not simply being added to seats in the upper-level sideline; the area is being reinvented altogether. This will result in the capacity of Rupp Arena being reduced to approximately 20,500.
Construction on this project will begin after the 2018-19 season, but the time to begin thinking about how it will affect you is now. If your seats are in the upper level, you will participate in a new seat selection process for the 2019-20 season, regardless whether or not your seats are along the sidelines. We understand that seating changes can present challenges and be uncomfortable at first, but we believe they will be well worth it as we make Rupp Arena an even better home for Kentucky basketball and for you to cheer on our Wildcats.
It’s important to know that the order in which you will select your seats will be based on your K Fund priority ranking as of Jan. 31, 2019, which is the best way to ensure this process is fair, equitable and transparent. K Fund priority rankings take into account more than just financial contributions. Your ranking is also affected by how long you have had season tickets and whether you have season tickets for our other sports. We will also reward season ticket holders bonus K Fund points based on years of consecutive purchase as a way to show fans who have stayed with us how much we value them.
I want to close by thanking you for your support of UK Athletics and of our men’s basketball program. That support makes it possible to sustain the greatest tradition in college basketball history. UKathletics.com/RuppRenovation will be updated frequently with the latest information about this project. I hope you will not hesitate to reach out to the Ticket Office at (800) 928-2287 or the K Fund Office at (859) 257-6300 with questions. You may also contact us via email at BBNFirst@uky.edu.
