LEXINGTON, Ky. — The neon lights of the Las Vegas Strip will glow blue when Big Blue Nation takes over Sin City in December with two games at T-Mobile Arena. The Kentucky men’s basketball team will play Utah on Wednesday, Dec. 18 and Ohio State in the CBS Sports Classic three days later on Saturday, Dec. 21 at T-Mobile Arena. Lexington-based bdG Sports announced a #BBNVegas campaign today and the launch of ticket sales for the Utah game which it is managing.
The Wildcats head to Vegas for only the third time in school history after playing at UNLV in 1980 and a memorable game vs. North Carolina at T-Mobile Arena in 2016. The Utah game will tip at 8 p.m. PT on Wednesday, Dec. 18 and the event, dubbed the Neon Hoops Showcase, serves to benefit Coaches vs. Cancer, an initiative spearheaded by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (www.nabc.com) and the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org).
“I know our team and our fans have been looking forward to this Las Vegas trip since we announced it and really since the last time we were there in 2016,” said Kentucky head coach John Calipari. “I’ve had folks come up to me and tell me what an unbelievable time they had when we played North Carolina in T-Mobile Arena. The great thing about this trip is we’re going to make it a little longer and play two games so our fans can get a good look at our team while enjoying a few days in Vegas before the holidays. Ohio State and Utah are going to be difficult games and really prepare our young team for what’s to come later in the season. I know we can’t wait to get out there.”
bdG Sports is partnering with Kentucky Sports Radio to promote #BBNVegas which will include fan contests, such as winning a trip to Las Vegas for the weekend, and fan engagement on social media through @BBNLasVegas and the hashtag. The week’s festivities also will include a golf outing at Shadow Creek, the legendary course in Las Vegas that played host to “The Match” between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson last November, with full details to be announced at a later date.
“Our company has been in partnership with MGM Resorts since 2013 to bring the very best of college basketball to Las Vegas,” said bdG Sports President and CEO Brooks Downing. “Two things that have no equal are the Las Vegas Strip and Big Blue Nation. It’s a destination trip that includes two premium UK games, terrific lodging options, and for the golfer, an opportunity to play one of the world’s finest golf courses.”
Tickets for Kentucky-Utah go on public sale on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET and can be purchased at AXS.com, t-mobilearena.com or by calling 888-9AXS-TIX.
For complete information, visit www.bbnvegas.comor on social media at @BBNLasVegas.
