Rupp Arena

Kentucky Wildcats (NCAA basketball, since 1976) Lexington Horsemen ( af2, since 2003) Kentucky Thoroughblades ( AHL, 1996-2001) Lexington Men O'War ( ECHL, 2002-2003 )

The Rupp Arena is a multi-purpose arena in Lexington, Kentucky and the centerpiece of Lexington Center, a convention and shopping center, which was established in 1976 by ​​the Lexington -Fayette Urban County Government, opened. The arena hosted the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four 1985.

History

The first to use the arena was completed in 1976, the University of Kentucky, which is the largest arena of Kentucky initially used for matches in the men's team, the " Kentucky Wildcats ", and later also for their women's teams. From 1996 to 2001, the Rupp Arena also home of the Kentucky Thoroughblades, a hockey franchise, which has now moved to Worcester and plays there as a farm team of the San Jose Sharks of the NHL under the name Worcester Sharks in the American Hockey League. Another hockey team that used the building for its home games, were the Lexington Men O'War from the ECHL minor league in the season 2002/ 03. Since 2003, it would bear the Lexington Horsemen of the second-rate arenafootball2 their home games at Rupp Arena from. The complex also includes a theater with 2,300 and a concert hall with 10,000 spectators. Is named the arena after the American basketball coaching legend Adolph Rupp, who was himself a long time at the University of Kentucky operates.

NCAA Basketball Tournaments

  • 2007: First and second final round
  • 2002: Finals of the South Region
  • 1998: First and second final round
  • 1996: Semi-finals and final of the South East Region
  • 1994: First and second final round
  • 1992: Semi-finals and final of the South East Region
  • 1989: Semi-finals and final of the South East Region
  • 1985 NCAA Final Four
  • 1984: Semi-finals and finals of the Mideast region
  • 1980: Semi-finals and finals of the Mideast region
  • 1977: Semi-finals and finals of the Mideast region

Capacity

Although the official ground capacity is only 23,500 seats at basketball games, often found already more than 24,000 spectators at college games at the Arena Square. This is possible because only the lower tier, less than half of the seats are equipped with seat shells, the entire upper tier consists of benches. In addition, there are in the lower tier, just behind one of the two baskets, a standing block, the so-called " eRUPPtion zone ". Unlike many built in this time stages, Rupp Arena has no luxury suites, these were not added at a later renovation work. This is mainly due to the fact that suites would significantly limit the capacity at the well-attended games of basketball teams. Furthermore uncharacteristically has the hall no video cube, since this could not hold the ceiling. Instead, two video screens were installed in the arena.

Possible new arena

Currently plans for the city of Lexington, to build a new basketball stadium until 2018. The capacity of the new arena should include 24000-30000 places.

Trivia

  • The first scored in the new arena was officially thrown basket of patrols grandson chip.
  • The attendance record in Rupp Arena was reached on February 10, 2007 with 24,465 visitors at the 61:64 loss to the Florida Gators.
  • The Kentucky Wildcats are the only basketball team in the NCAA, the discharging each of its home games outside of their own campus.
  • Since the University of Kentucky plays in Rupp Arena, she reached in 19 of 31 seasons, the highest average attendance in the league, of which eleven times in the last twelve seasons. In the remaining twelve seasons in which the University could not reach the highest average attendance, the Wildcats occupied almost each second behind Syracuse University, the comprehensive their games in the Carrier Dome, 33,000 fans fought out.
Lexington (Kentucky) National Collegiate Athletic Association Arena Football Ice hockey Sports franchising Worcester (Massachusetts) Farmteam University of Florida
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