Can Rupp's atmosphere be improved?
- Thread starter coolcat9lives
- Start date
I have sat in the top row and on press row (once)... Do not attend many basketball games...
My opinion... Those in the upper reaches have my respect!
Not only are they terrible seats but they're not all that easy to get to compared to new places (like YUM/been up there in top also)...
Big arenas suck for basketball... Court sports have detail that's missed when the fan is at a distance... BUT.......
My one time on press row allowed me to get a player perspective... Size matters... From court level Rupp is visually intimidating. Seems like the fans are looking straight down on you... It's BIG! Seems more vertical than say YUM, and it's all people... No visual breaks of boxes, courts and such....
Then there is the noise and from floor level, it cascades down and bottoms out on the floor... I can't imagine any athlete not getting pumped stepping onto that floor... All else the fans bring kicks it up notches.
I could be really happy sitting on the bench. Appreciate the fans in the upper deck. Wish the fans in the lower would find anyone to sit in their primo seats rather than let them go empty...
Maybe... there could be a ticket exchange where fans with primo seats could turn them in to the basketball offices for redistribution... To have any empty seats at Rupp while so many fans would love a one time game experience is a waste of resources... But we see empty seats aplenty for many of the, "less than important", home games.... So my 1st thought is to get the seats filled...
My opinion... Those in the upper reaches have my respect!
Not only are they terrible seats but they're not all that easy to get to compared to new places (like YUM/been up there in top also)...
Big arenas suck for basketball... Court sports have detail that's missed when the fan is at a distance... BUT.......
My one time on press row allowed me to get a player perspective... Size matters... From court level Rupp is visually intimidating. Seems like the fans are looking straight down on you... It's BIG! Seems more vertical than say YUM, and it's all people... No visual breaks of boxes, courts and such....
Then there is the noise and from floor level, it cascades down and bottoms out on the floor... I can't imagine any athlete not getting pumped stepping onto that floor... All else the fans bring kicks it up notches.
I could be really happy sitting on the bench. Appreciate the fans in the upper deck. Wish the fans in the lower would find anyone to sit in their primo seats rather than let them go empty...
Maybe... there could be a ticket exchange where fans with primo seats could turn them in to the basketball offices for redistribution... To have any empty seats at Rupp while so many fans would love a one time game experience is a waste of resources... But we see empty seats aplenty for many of the, "less than important", home games.... So my 1st thought is to get the seats filled...
agree with everything but the music comment - but that's just my personal preference, LOL
There is some great, older stuff that people will get up and move to, just not the same old tired Mony Mony
my favorites seats at Rupp were not court level, believe it or not. The best were the lower level just before the railing for the walkway between levels. When you're too close to the floor, at least for me, it's hard to see the action well. A little higher was better, plus you could hear the crazies in the higher levels right behind you
You heard that somewhere before and thought it would be cute to repeat it. "Cute" alone doesn't impress. Try to spice it up with some intelligence.
They should have a greased handrail surrounding the court that is made just for dancing man. He could straddle it all game long to the endless loop of "Do You Wanna Touch" by Joan Jett, and when the crowd complains, crank the music up even louder and lower the rail just a little to give dancing man an opportunity for some erotic moves, to really whip everyone into a frenzy! [laughing]
No, but in all seriousness, I don't have any real suggestions . . . man, I think all this rain is affecting me.
No, but in all seriousness, I don't have any real suggestions . . . man, I think all this rain is affecting me.
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I graduated UK in 99. moved out of state and didn't come back for a game till 2012. It was the exact same music and program. The superman theme, mony mony, give me some loving, spell Kentucky, cheerleader routines.every tv time out was a trip down boring lane. The only difference was intro, and that was an improvement. It would take so little effort to make a change. Fire the band director, mimeograph some new sheet music, wipe clean the hard drive of what they play.
Well good morning, sir! I see you've helped yourself to a very nutritious serving of D*ck-Flakes! You are most certainly radiating with intelligence since they have a full days' worth of fiber in each serving.
And no, I didn't "hear" that from anywhere. Was pretty much just a bit of sarcasm that's clearly gone over some people's heads. So be like a good dog and run back outside for your morning dump.
One of the sports radio talk shows in Nashville was talking about a representative of UK and/or Rupp visiting a Predators hockey game and collecting information on their presentation. I love to attend Preds games but not sure it would all be right for a college basketball venue.
NCAA teams actually aren't supposed to play music and whatnot throughout the duration of the game.
I remember seeing some big games when I was a student there, a UNC game comes to mind when the crowd was awesome. UK plays a lot of those big games on the road now so I sorta get it when fans say no big home games. I live on the west coast so I have not been to many games in recent years but many times watching games I am yelling at the fans to stand up. Big play happens or its pretty close in the second half everyone is just sitting there quietly. WAKE UP! The audio system or fireworks can enhance the experience but ultimately the fans have to get fired up.
And you sum up the problem right there, though not quite in the way you think. Duke and Kansas, generally regarded as the best home atmospheres in all of college basketball, have enormous booster support. Unlike UK, though, that support doesn't come with the caveat that those boosters are going to get all of the best seats, and generally have their asses kissed in every possible way. The boosters at Duke and Kansas cede the home arena to the students in a way that will never happen at UK.
UNC is actually kind of similar, and has the same type of issues with crowds that aren't necessarily the most enthusiastic. It is what it is, and in UK's case, it was almost inevitable that it was going to happen when the decision was made the build Rupp off campus.
That's a bold faced lie. And they're probably not that energetic because they're stuck behind a backboard and can't see what's going on half the time. Either that or in the nose bleeds. But don't try and take up for the deadness that is the big dollar donors.
Given the stigma of the NLT I'm honestly quite impressed BBN was such good sports about it. Shoot many teams have refused NLT invites. And when we won the 1946 NIT and finished second in 1947 (it wasn't the NLT back then; indeed Rupp himself considered the NIT just as good as the NCAA's) and our 1976 one was around the time the NCAA first started letting at-larges/"wildcards" in the tournament (it used to be only conference champs got in the NCAA's) so while the NIT was certainly not as good as the NCAA's, it also wasn't quite the "loser's tournament" at that time either.
Still it is kinda neat we're the only team with multiple NCAA and NIT titles.
You sure you wanna risk something like this though? Wow, talk about "Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!"
Perhaps there of some of us "old" people who resent your remarks. Makes me hope you don't get to suffer being old.
Maybe don't get too worked up over a joke on a message board? I hope you're not too old to get a sense of humor.
In all seriousness though, the older fans who are going to go to the games and sleep halfway through them, need to pony up their tickets to younger fans who are actually going to cheer on the team. I've seen older people do the following in Rupp during a game: knit, read, and sleep. That's pitiful.
Either do those things at home, do it from the higher up seats in Rupp, or get off your butt and cheer on the team. It's not a secret that the older fans are one of the hindrances as to why Rupp can't be a more electric atmosphere.
We simply need a new arena.
The next question is, what would that arena have/look-like, how would it be different/better?
I would prefer for it to be on campus for the students, but can understand the reasons for it being downtown too. So that isn't a deal-breaker either way for me.
On-campus positives: easier for students; parking (if near football stadium); even better student turnout
Downtown positives: hotels & restaurants for people going to games, better for multi-purpose uses, better for businesses in downtown
I don't think it has to hold more than Rupp, could be a few less, but NOT significantly less, I think would need to be in the 23-25K range.
Mid-level sky boxes & suites. That is where some of the $ contributors would sit.
I think you could have the 2-3 rows surrounding the UK bench also go to high-$ contributors.
But generally, I would want the bottom 6-8 rows being all students (noting the above exception). This is how NC State has their students.
Move the band to one of the baselines, or at least to more of a corner area (could split it to two smaller groups in opposite corners, might be a cool yet different sound).
I like the tiered structure of UNC's Dean Dome, creating a much more intimate feel seeming closer to the court even for the nose-bleed seats.
Has to have chair-back seats for the upper arena too; but don't need arm rests (those just take up room & aren't practical), or maybe an armrest every 2nd seat so that each seat has either a left or right one but not both.
Of course the latest in high-tech audio & video, LED screens, & etc...
I don't really care either way if alcohol sales are allowed. If you only to go the game as a place to drink & be obnoxious, I'd rather a real fan have that ticket. But if you want to enjoy a drink or two while watching our Cats, I have no problem with that. They could even have a Bourbon section, where you get 1 bourbon shot included with each game (of course those seats would be more $).
Then have some really cool exterior asthetics & concourses.
The next question is, what would that arena have/look-like, how would it be different/better?
I would prefer for it to be on campus for the students, but can understand the reasons for it being downtown too. So that isn't a deal-breaker either way for me.
On-campus positives: easier for students; parking (if near football stadium); even better student turnout
Downtown positives: hotels & restaurants for people going to games, better for multi-purpose uses, better for businesses in downtown
I don't think it has to hold more than Rupp, could be a few less, but NOT significantly less, I think would need to be in the 23-25K range.
Mid-level sky boxes & suites. That is where some of the $ contributors would sit.
I think you could have the 2-3 rows surrounding the UK bench also go to high-$ contributors.
But generally, I would want the bottom 6-8 rows being all students (noting the above exception). This is how NC State has their students.
Move the band to one of the baselines, or at least to more of a corner area (could split it to two smaller groups in opposite corners, might be a cool yet different sound).
I like the tiered structure of UNC's Dean Dome, creating a much more intimate feel seeming closer to the court even for the nose-bleed seats.
Has to have chair-back seats for the upper arena too; but don't need arm rests (those just take up room & aren't practical), or maybe an armrest every 2nd seat so that each seat has either a left or right one but not both.
Of course the latest in high-tech audio & video, LED screens, & etc...
I don't really care either way if alcohol sales are allowed. If you only to go the game as a place to drink & be obnoxious, I'd rather a real fan have that ticket. But if you want to enjoy a drink or two while watching our Cats, I have no problem with that. They could even have a Bourbon section, where you get 1 bourbon shot included with each game (of course those seats would be more $).
Then have some really cool exterior asthetics & concourses.
I have done more to support the team than
you will if you have 10 lifetimes-who to hell are you to tell me what I can or should do when I go to games?
you will if you have 10 lifetimes-who to hell are you to tell me what I can or should do when I go to games?
His assumption that older people don't do their part belies the evidence . Go to the SEC tournament and give me the average age of UK fans -then tell me they aren't the loudest group in the arena
When Rupp is quiet, the whole place is quiet. It's not just the 2000 or 3000 older fans. The other 20,000 should easily make up for the older fans who are only, maybe, 10% of the crowd (at most). They should, but they don't. So why not call them out?
This crap comes up several times a year, the OP of such threads should automatically be banned.
No, you are not going to get the old timers seats so give it up. When you get old maybe you will be fortunate enough to have lower level seats and not have to walk up into the rafters.
No, you are not going to get the old timers seats so give it up. When you get old maybe you will be fortunate enough to have lower level seats and not have to walk up into the rafters.
Most of the SEC-T attending UK fans are not season ticket holders. They are the fans unable to get season tickets and those who don't live near Lexington. So your example is irrelevant.
That's a fair point, and I would call them out too. EVERY fan can always do a better job of occasionally getting loud to give a boost to the team. That includes me, sometimes I get too quiet, and I have to occasionally remind myself hey get your *** up, the guys need you.
You know why that's a poor example? Because those are the fans who don't have season tickets and rarely get to see the team play. Therefore, they haven't become spoiled. They make the most of their experience and they get off their asses and cheer on the team.
And secondly, unbunch your panties. I never questioned your fandom or your support for the team. All I said was the older fans who aren't willing to cheer and be loud, should concede their tickets to fans who want to be their and be wild, that's why the SEC-T and NCAA-T crowds are wild. And I wouldn't give as much support as you if I had 10 lifetimes? What the hell are you, a 1000 years old? Get over yourself.
And you, @crestcat, I want us to be as successful as Kansas? That's interesting. I'd like for Rupp to be a better experience than Phog Allen. Because that's another thing that we'd be better at then them. Why not strive for excellence, isn't that what Coach Cal preaches to the fans? To be the gold standard? So why not try and be?
And here's the funny thing you two sensitive sally's are forgetting. Coach Cal called out the blue hairs and the Rupp crowd a few months ago for not being loud enough. Why do you think he did that? If you have such a problem with what I'm saying then why aren't you pissed at our Coach?
Did I make a poor joke? Maybe, I definitely didn't do a good job of presenting it more as a joke, so that's on me, I can admit that. But the following bulls*t you two came back at me with, no. I'm gonna stop you there and tell you to get over yourselves and lighten up.
You can't fix Rupp , the fan base at Rupp is primarily middle aged to older and that by nature does not lend to a rowdy environment . But it's deeper than that because Kansas probably has a similar makeup and their arena is more vocal . The lower level UK fans are there as a social event first , to be seen and remain stately . There's nothing that will fix that but even the average fan at Rupp is docile unless there is a complaint or a team they really want to beat . It's almost as if they are not really into it but go anyway because there's nothing else to do . The students aren't great either so I'm not picking on any one group . We should just take it for what it is , it would be cool to have a vocal crowd but you can't suddenly change a culture like that . I only point it out because posters act like it's one of the better crowds and it isn't but a few times a season .
THIS mentality, in a nutshell, is whats wrong with Rupp. We have an entitled group of season ticket holders who have been there since the place opened. Going to a UK game to them is like going to the grocery store. Its what you do once or twice a week and its really nothing to get excited about. Lower arena is like a bunch of Judge Smails from Caddyshack clones sitting around waiting for tea. I am not saying those people should be kicked out. They pay for it so they deserve it but that is the problem with the atmosphere.
It's not about dancing. It's about getting pumped. Make em wanna go out and kill somebody. Country and rock isn't gonna do that.
It's the people who do nothing but sit and complain about what the people around them do. That just happens to be a lot of the older people who sit in the lower arena. They're in Commonwealth too. Figure out a way to get them to willingly move. Find better ways to get people excited at games. Both Rupp and Commonwealth are terrible about completely ruining the mood with terrible music and cheers.
Genuine question here - has anyone posting in this thread played in front of 24,000 people? Was it easy?
I know Rupp gets a knock for the 'bluehairs' but I'll tell you what, I went to chapel hill a few times this last year on business, and when they were ranked #1 that place was 2/3 full. Maybe. I've been to dozens of games in Rupp and have never seen it as bad as the dean dome was. Other arenas have advantages, but Rupp is just fine and only getting better. #RIPBigBertha
I know Rupp gets a knock for the 'bluehairs' but I'll tell you what, I went to chapel hill a few times this last year on business, and when they were ranked #1 that place was 2/3 full. Maybe. I've been to dozens of games in Rupp and have never seen it as bad as the dean dome was. Other arenas have advantages, but Rupp is just fine and only getting better. #RIPBigBertha
I just want to point something out. There are unused student tickets available to the public for many of the games. If you are one of the people that feels we need more noise during the lower profile games, please buy these tickets, show up, and get loud. Many people incorrectly assume that all games are sold out. In reality, only the high profile games actually sell out.
well...since we are talking about improving the atmosphere.....is this really a bad thing?
putting students on the floor will NEVER happen. all uk can really do...modernize everything else. no matter the cost
Yea, we never win in Rupp...
The main thing is that you feel entertained....
the "keep me entertained constantly" generation know no bounds...
I wouldn't use them either if they were upper level. Not even worth the hassle. Getting the students, who can actually stand and cheer the entire game without getting tired, into good lower arena seats is the only solution. At least get them behind both backboards, not just one, even though those seats aren't the best either.