It opened in 1976. It’s official capacity is listed as 23,500. It hosted the 1985 Final Four. It’s home to the University of Kentucky Men’s Basketball Team. It’s more than steel and concrete, it’s Rupp Arena. There are older arenas and there are arenas that are more intimate and there are arenas that have quirky or interesting design elements, but few, if any, hold the history of Rupp.
Recently after a game, I was able to walk onto the court. The arena was quiet. The lights were dim. The championship banners hung from the rafters silently. I looked up at the names that have been a part of the legacy of Wildcat Basketball. It’s hard to be in that environment and really grasp what it means to be a Wildcat, to be a part of Big Blue Nation. Our fathers and grandfathers listened to the radio broadcasts of Caywood Ledford of Rupp’s Runts and the Fidlin Five. People of my generation remember Pitino’s Bombinos, the Unforgettables and the Untouchables. And now, Head Coach John Calipari is ushering in a new era of Wildcat dominance.
If the, as some people say, being a Kentucky fan is similar to a religion, then the cathedral has to be Rupp Arena. It stands as a testament to just how unique of an environment that the most passionate fan base in college basketball can create. While during some of the games the crowd is a bit, well, quiet, there’s no better big game environment than 24,000 Blue Crazed fans cheering on their beloved Wildcats.
The Wildcats enjoy a nearly unparalleled home court advantage. Since Rupp opened in 1976, the Wildcats are 518-64 at home which is a winning percentage of 89%. Kentucky has also been near the top of college basketball attendance, leading the nation 25 times including 17 of the last 19 seasons and 8 of the last 9. There’s no better testament to just how serious the Big Blue Nation takes its basketball.
In the comments below, share your favorite Rupp Arena memory or go to Twitter and let me know, I’m @tbrown_80 .