What Was Your First Rupp Arena Experience?

[FinnaGoHAM]

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

Are those orange seats? I don't remember those

 

[pauled#1]

Kiss concert 1978

 

[UK 82]

Fleetwood Mac, August 1978. A few days before the start of my freshman year.

 

[FinnaGoHAM]

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

I was there that night too! About 25 rows back on the floor. Saw Springsteen that same week, same seats!

 

[FinnaGoHAM]

https://www.rupparena.com/arena-information/time-line

FYI, if you want to see a timeline of all the events held at Rupp, this is the link.

 

[Slowwalker]

Not long after I moved to Lexington, there was an NBA exhibition game. I can't remember who both teams were, but one was the Bulls I am pretty sure. This would have been 1994-1995.

Found in a link provided in another comment. It was Oct. of 1994.

 

[WeWant9]

First experience was playing hockey there and seeing the Thoroughblades play.

First UK game was when I was at UK and my parents surprised me with tix to a game. It was unfortunately during the 2013 season, but it was the last game vs Florida. Luckily UK won, and Julius Mayes hit some big shots to some nice fanfare.

 

[federalcat]

https://www.rupparena.com/arena-information/time-line

FYI, if you want to see a timeline of all the events held at Rupp, this is the link.

Cool link. Saw The Who in 11/82. First game was the Russian National Team exhibition loss in 11/82.

 

[gojvc]

I was there that night too! About 25 rows back on the floor. Saw Springsteen that same week, same seats!

Yep. Springsteen played on the 11th but it was a school night and I live in Louisville. I did see him a month later at Freedom Hall (first of 10 times). BTW, if you remember, UK and U6 played at Freedom Hall the night of the Prince concert. My friend recorded the game for us on his new hi-tech VCR thing .

 

[VernHatton52]

UK-Maryland, 98/99. I was a freshman. Great f'n game with an electric crowd.

 

[uky8unc5]

Are those orange seats? I don't remember those

Yep some were...

But up in the nosebleed section where we sat, we had an aluminum bleacher bench that was 2 rows from sitting on the High Street Sidewalk!!

 

[BradleyCrawford08_rivals]

March 2010 vs Florida. Day after I turned 13 years old. First year of the Calipari era with Wall and Cousins lighting it up plus my favorite player at the time Patrick Patterson. I remember the excitement I had walking in there for the first time, seeing the championship and Final Four banners, the many jerseys of past Kentucky greats hanging in the rafters. Something I will never forget.

 

[CrimsonCats_rivals]

I’m not sure the extent of how unusual it was really hit me at the time since I was only 7 years old, but my first time in Rupp is a pretty crazy story when I look back on it.

My dad really wanted to take me to a game once I was old enough to appreciate it, but tickets weren’t exactly easy to come by back then. He decided to take a shot at asking Dr. Wethington, who was the president at the time and something of an acquaintance through work for help in getting a ticket. Amazingly, not only did he respond, he gifted us two tickets on the 2nd row at halfcourt! The game was against Tubby’s Georgia team on February 1, 1997, and I was on cloud nine the whole day just from soaking in all the atmosphere. I can especially remember that Ron Mercer dunked literally straight off the tip and sent a surge through the place. Dad later won a lottery for the right to purchase season tickets in the upper deck, so we went back for several years after that, but that first trip will always be really special.

 

[Blueworld_3.0]

First game was in 1981 I think, Sweet Sixteen, Pulaski County versus Bryan Station or Tates Creek (can't remember which).
First concert, the Sunday night Pink Floyd show in Nov. of '87. 12 rows from the stage, center, on the floor. That was an amazing night!

 

[CaptainBoogerBuns]

I was arrested by a guy impersonating a cop.

 

[Cat06]

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

I had the guitar Paul smashed from that show. Neck and Body.

 

[Cat06]

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

I found the date online somewhere. I have about 100 or so concert stubs from the time, but not that one. I do have a stub for the Nugent / Nazareth show May 28 1977.

There were not too many concerts I missed in the Region from early 77 until 81.

 

[onearmedjesus]

First game was the 1982 UKIT (I remember Charles Hurt on the cover of the program).

First non-basketball moment was the Kinks in concert (I think 1986... actually 1984).

However, in 1989 got a summer job there on the maintenance crew. Got to wear a Rupp hat and shirt with the logo and work on the roof (great view) and the bowels of the building at times. Best part was two years later when I and a buddy of mine used our hats and shirts to sneak in through the workers area to get into and down to the 5th row for an REM show. I think I still have the hat somewhere.

 

[onearmedjesus]

UK-Maryland, 98/99. I was a freshman. Great f'n game with an electric crowd.

Best game I ever attended at Rupp.

 

[bthaunert]

Are those orange seats? I don't remember those

When Rupp first opened and for a long time, the seats were bad.

 

[bthaunert]

My first game was February 15, 1992 against WKU. It was a very "meh" game. The last time I was in Rupp was November 25, 2000, when the Crispin brothers lit us up for 57 combined points.

 

[FinnaGoHAM]

I found the date online somewhere. I have about 100 or so concert stubs from the time, but not that one. I do have a stub for the Nugent / Nazareth show May 28 1977.

There were not too many concerts I missed in the Region from early 77 until 81.

One of the downsides to the modern ticketing process is no more ticket stubs.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

Back in Sept of 2001 just after the Trade Center Tragedies, I went to Winchester, Ky for my Cousins wedding and as a side bar the family was going to meet up at Rupp just to look inside. Well my wife and I had a bit to drink the night before and we overslept in our hotel room while the rest of the fam. went to and got an inside tour of Rupp.
By the time my wife and I arrived they wouldn't let us in.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

I believe it was the 2001 season, Fifth Row Mid court. Kentucky vs. South Carolina. My Uncles a CFO and his company always got amazing tickets to every event in Kentucky basically.

 

[UKLone]

Jazz vs Celtics scrimmage Pitinos first year as nba coach.

 

[WildcatFan1982]

the first game I attended was in 2004 against Morehead.

 

[ftp000]

2/3/96 Saw our eventual National Champs beat Florida. Brought the wife down and got a room to celebrate her birthday. She's a UNC fan but I feel like seeing the joy in my face was a gift in and of itself. She's a lucky girl.

 

[robbob96]

The infamous Crispin Brothers game. Drove almost 5 hours with a huge Hoosier fan. On the way back I warned her that if she said a word about the game I would leave her wherever we were at that time. I probably would have too. Her family were Hoosier fans also, they could come get her. LOL.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

My first time at Rupp. Man, I loved that team!

 

[rivercatinfl]

Senior Night, March 4,1978. UK vs UNLV.
We led by 1 at halftime but blew them out in the second half. The crowd was the loudest thing I ever heard. One of the loudest moments was when James Lee drove to the basket and did one of his famous dunks nearly taking down the rim. I thought the roof was going to lift of Rupp Arena. By far the best game I’ve ever seen. Robey, Lee, Givens, Phillips were all seniors!! Amazing memory.

 

[JLoad22]

My early ones included "Boo Blue" and the Wildcat mascot that walked around on stilts.

 

[Whatsup]

1966

 

[CB3UK]

i couldn't tell you. My dad took me to games as a youngin in the 80s and 90s. My first was probably an Eddie Sutton game. I don't remember him being our coach though, my memory really picks up with Pitino.

 

[Bluefaithful]

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

100% Didn’t walk.
I was on 3rd row at half court
The thing I remembered the most, I thought Paul should of never caught the ball. He should of let the ball go out of bounds. They could of taken the ball out under their own basket with plenty of time to get a shot.
But thank goodness he didn’t! What a great Championship game

 

[FtWorthCat]

It was for the 1981 Sweet Sixteen. Mason County with Allen Feldhaus Sr., as coach and his oldest son Allen Jr. was one of their top players, was the team I remember most. Some rich guy from there was staying in the same hotel we were and threw a huge party that was basically open to everyone. Simon Kenton with Troy McKinley beat Mason County in the Championship Game.

 

[Blueaz]

100% Didn’t walk.
I was on 3rd row at half court
The thing I remembered the most, I thought Paul should of never caught the ball. He should of let the ball go out of bounds. They could of taken the ball out under their own basket with plenty of time to get a shot.
But thank goodness he didn’t! What a great Championship game

we will agree to disagree
I was across the way... I was saying he walked before it left his hands and was telling everyone..."it doesn't count, he walked" (As he was shooting it)...I kept waiting for "the wave off"
but a hell of a game!

 

[Bluefaithful]

we will agree to disagree
I was across the way... I was saying he walked before it left his hands and was telling everyone..."it doesn't count, he walked" (As he was shooting it)...I kept waiting for "the wave off"
but a hell of a game!

You are wrong! We will agree you are wrong. You don’t know basketball if you think that’s a walk. Just shooting a half court layup! Not a chance in blue moon hell that he traveled, zero percent. Watch the replay!!

 

[Blueaz]

You are wrong! We will agree you are wrong. You don’t know basketball if you think that’s a walk. Just shooting a half court layup! Not a chance in blue moon hell that he traveled, zero percent. Watch the replay!!

wow... do you need a snickers?

just watched replay... 2 1/2 steps

 

[Bluefaithful]

wow... do you need a snickers?

just watched replay... 2 1/2 steps

You need to go to your eye doctor. I was at the game, not one mention that he walked , not ever! Almost 40 years ago.
watch the replay idiot. 2 and half steps, you are an idiot!
Let’s bet! One and half steps. Watch his feet idiot

 

[Blueaz]

You need to go to your eye doctor. I was at the game, not one mention that he walked , not ever! Almost 40 years ago.
watch the replay idiot. 2 and half steps, you are an idiot!
Let’s bet! One and half steps. Watch his feet idiot

Mrs. Andrews, there is no reason to get your panties such in a wad and resort to name calling over a very simple discussion
when he starts to pick up ball...his right foot is in contact with floor, left (1)...right foot, then left foot (2) and release before right foot touches again (1/2)

you \/, hilarious