What Was Your First Rupp Arena Experience?

[FinnaGoHAM]

For non-sports it was the Oak Ridge Boys in February of 1982. For sports it was the entire 1982 Boys Sweet Sixteen, culminating with Laurel County's Paul Andrews making the championship-winning basket from beyond half-court to beat North Hardin 53-51. When people talk about the shot nowadays they estimate it was anywhere between 55 and 5,000 feet long. What was your first Rupp Arena experiences, both sports and non-sports?

 

[J_Dee]

My first game at Rupp was either from 1987-1988 or 1988-1989 season. I was pretty young so I don't remember exactly which game, but we sat next to LeRon Ellis's dad and Alan Cutler interviewed him during the game.

http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Players/Ellis_LeRon.html

I can't remember the first time I was at Rupp for a non-basketball event, but the most recent was probably for ScareFest in 2015.

 

[26MichaelUK]

Non Sports it was the TMNT concert.

First Game was Pitino's last time coaching UK in the building and we lost to South Carolina on Senior night. Next game was John Wall going crazy against North Carolina.

 

[Catfanlou_rivals54997]

delete

 

[Samurai Cat]

1976 UKIT, the year Rupp opened. Won the first game and lost in the championship to......Utah of all people.

 

[Cat06]

January 30 1977 The Marshall Tucker Band / Pure Prairie League. The first "Rockish" concert at Rupp, compare to the real Rupp opener Lawrence Welk.

 

[H00SIER-Cat]

November 2017. UK vs Utah Valley. Walked to my seat, warm-ups were still going on and didn't sit down quick enough to suit the guy behind me. I told him I was sorry but it took me 35 years to get there. He just nodded with a nasty look on his face.

 

[uky8unc5]

Nov 27, 1976
Opening Night
Section 220 Row T Seats 1/2

 

[SaltyCat22]

Was picked in a drawing for donating canned goods at the 2002 LSU football game. Was against some turd team that winter. A year later my grandpa got selected in the lottery. Now I’ll only go see big games in Rupp.

 

[BlueMist24]

Kentucky vs Villanova 1997. Nose bleed section but we gave them an *** whooping. I was 9 at the time.

 

[drew_ukfan_rivals]

I believe it was this game in 06 vs college of Charleston

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/boxscores/2006-11-28-kentucky.html

 

[serdi]

Went to the very first game played there versus Wisconsin.

My first thoughts were, should have never left the Coliseum. All these years later my first thought is should’ve never left the Coliseum.

 

[HagginHall1999]

 

[Jamal Mercer]

2001 vs Notre Dame. I was 24 years old when I finally made a game there. Been to a bunch since.

We won by about 10. Prince and Bogans led the way.

 

[dbrice3]

Nov 27, 1976
Opening Night
Section 220 Row T Seats 1/2

Woah - it actually said Big Bertha on the speaker? I do not remember that.

 

[FFWhite]

1979 Sweet sixteen. Dirk Minnifield, Junior Johnson and Tony Wilson Airline. Saw the Eagles in concert 1979 same night as 7th game of the World Series. Willie Stargell spanked Baltimore. Would have rather watched baseball.

 

[P. Fanning]

Was picked in a drawing for donating canned goods at the 2002 LSU football game. Was against some turd team that winter. A year later my grandpa got selected in the lottery. Now I’ll only go see big games in Rupp.

I had a friend that got picked in that drawing if I remember correctly. The tickets he got were for when they played Alcorn State.

 

[P. Fanning]

2006 Big Blue Madness was my first time in Rupp Arena. That and the campout for tickets was a lot of fun. Glad to see the campout make its return this year.

 

[JonathanW_rivals]

I was a SR at WKU and got a ticket to see the Cats with 6’7 center Reggie Hanson take on LSU with Shaq, and we won.

 

[Dr.LutherSan]

My first time in Rupp was in 2003 . My high school got absolutely manhandled by Lonnell Dewalt and Warren Central in the first round of the Sweet Sixteen.

 

[David Rice]

Non Sports it was the TMNT concert.

Was it this?

 

[HagginHall1999]

Kentucky vs Villanova 1997. Nose bleed section but we gave them an *** whooping. I was 9 at the time.

Great game. Mercer brutalized Tim Thomas.

 

[26MichaelUK]

Was it this?

Holy ****, yep that's it. Thanks for posting it bro.

 

[David Rice]

Holy ****, yep that's it. Thanks for posting it bro.

Thanks. I loved that they said this was worse than Ninja Turtles 3. I was 5 and I did not like that movie.

 

[On-On-UK_rivals45415]

I was a freshman in 1975. My roommate and I walked downtown to see the new Rupp which was under construction. It was night and no one was around, and we found a way in. There were a few lights on inside. It was far from being complete. The coolest part was standing at the edge of the empty bowl looking down to where the court and all the seating would eventually be.

 

[MethodUK]

He was so good that the opposing team, Kentucky, its coach, Eddie Sutton, and ABC analyst Dick Vitale gave him a standing ovation when he exited the game. On Jan. 25, 1987, Navy's David Robinson had possibly the greatest individual effort Rupp Arena has ever seen.

I still remember it like yesterday at the ripe old age of 11
.

 

[Dr.LutherSan]

Went to the very first game played there versus Wisconsin.

My first thoughts were, should have never left the Coliseum. All these years later my first thought is should’ve never left the Coliseum.

Is Rupp Arena on your lawn?

 

[gojvc]

My first time in Rupp Arena was December 15, 1984 to see Prince on The Purple Rain Tour.

 

[Blueaz]

For non-sports it was the Oak Ridge Boys in February of 1982. For sports it was the entire 1982 Boys Sweet Sixteen, culminating with Laurel County's Paul Andrews making the championship-winning basket from beyond half-court to beat North Hardin 53-51. When people talk about the shot nowadays they estimate it was anywhere between 55 and 5,000 feet long. What was your first Rupp Arena experiences, both sports and non-sports?

Same.
And Andrews 100% walked before he made the half court heave.
Non was ZZTop circa 85

 

[Anon1658882690]

Pink Floyd in 1987,, think was the year.. First UK game was miss st in 1996 and that damn Erick Dampier.. Mofo couldn't miss that game..

 

[SeaKat311]

We used to go to the UKIT every year, but the first big game I remember was late 70’s. UK played ranked Purdue, who had Joe Barry Carroll, who was a beast. UK won 61-60 on a game winning shot by Kyle Macy. The crowd was absolutely electric. Remember it like it was yesterday.

 

[WildcatFan1982]

Incubus in 2002

 

[Fat-so]

For non-sports it was the Oak Ridge Boys in February of 1982. For sports it was the entire 1982 Boys Sweet Sixteen, culminating with Laurel County's Paul Andrews making the championship-winning basket from beyond half-court to beat North Hardin 53-51. When people talk about the shot nowadays they estimate it was anywhere between 55 and 5,000 feet long. What was your first Rupp Arena experiences, both sports and non-sports?

Well Elvira, my heart's on fireee!!!!


I love me some Elvira and Oak Ridge Boys! My first game was 1997-98 against a young Bill Selfs Fighting Hairpieces of Tulsa Sect 241 in them old high *** up in the end zone upper arena bs seats feeling like my mom got took on some ****** seats but she made it happened. I couldn't believe I was actually there. Been to a lot of good games actually since then but that game was still one of my favorites just cause it was the 1st.

 

[MWes11]

Unfortunately, I still have not made it down to Rupp. Hoping to soon.

 

[rick64]

Going to the UKIT during the Christmas holidays back in the 80s. Students had gone home for the holidays so tickets were easy to get.

 

[Ugoff]

Wrestling event in '77 or '78. Remember watching a tiny "Superstar Bill Dundee" from one of the last rows.

 

[UKnVaTech]

Thanksgiving weekend 1983. UK-Louisville regular season rivalry renewed. Bowie and Turpin. UK won 65-44.
I had no clue that such a sports environment could ever exist. It was insane.

 

[FurdTurgason]

UKIT twice in the early 80s. Indiana in Dec 83. Saw us beat LSU in 85 and lose to Auburn maybe that same year.

 

[Rush2112 UK]

First game: Opening night, vs. Wisconsin, 1976.
First concert: KISS, 1-18-78

 

[FinnaGoHAM]

January 30 1977 The Marshall Tucker Band / Pure Prairie League. The first "Rockish" concert at Rupp, compare to the real Rupp opener Lawrence Welk.

Do you still have the ticket stub? Is that how you know the exact date?