LEXINGTON, Ky. — LEXINGTON, Ky. – Construction continues on a project that will transform the longtime home of the Kentucky men’s basketball program. With a new season for the Wildcats fast approaching, the installation of upper-level sideline chair-backs at Rupp Arena is on schedule while the opening of new club areas has been postponed until the 2020-21 season.
New chair-back seating in upper-level sideline sections 211-217 and 228-234 is being installed right now and is on schedule. This new chair-back seating will be in place for Big Blue Madness, set for Oct. 11, as well as UK’s subsequent exhibition and regular-season schedule.
The renovation will also bring new club areas to Rupp for the first time. UK Athletics was informed this week by the Lexington Center Corporation that the opening of these clubs has been postponed due to construction delays. Two new clubs originally set to open to season ticket holders for the 2019-20 season will now instead open for the 2020-21 season.
UK Athletics anticipates that game-day parking and arena entry will continue to be impacted during the 2019-20 season due to construction. As additional information becomes available, UK Athletics will share it with fans. The latest information can be found online at UKathletics.com/RuppRenovation [nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com].
Announced last May, these upgrades to Rupp’s interior are part of the $241 million construction of the new Lexington Convention Center that will overhaul the exterior of the facility. The installation of chair-back seating was undertaken in response to years of feedback from fans asking for more comfortable seating in the upper level.
Upper-level season ticket holders participated in a seat selection process in May and June. All season ticket holders received renewal information in July and the renewal deadline is today: Friday, Aug. 23. Fans interested in acquiring new tickets may still enter the men's basketball season ticket lottery online [nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com]. For more information on K Fund seating availability, please call 859-257-6300.
Kentucky will once again enter the 2019-20 season as a national title contender in John Calipari’s 11th season as head coach. UK will return Ashton Hagans, Nick Richards, EJ Montgomery and Immanuel Quickley from last year’s team that won 30 games and advanced to the Elite Eight. They will be joined by another talented crop of newcomers in facing another challenging home slate.
