In one of the biggest early non-conference matchups of the season, Louisville is hosting #12 Tennessee. For both teams this is a great opportunity to get an early quad 1 win in the KenPom rankings. The problem is that Lousiville wants to make sure they have enough attendance to make it truly a home-court advantage. They have come up with two different marketing strategies to accommodate their attendance woes. Of course, Kentucky fans are loving it, in a laughing, Ls down sort of way.
The first was having their coach run around the campus and tell students to come to the game. He walked up and down paths and into the student center shouting at students, "You coming to the game on Saturday against Tennessee? Noon at the Yum!"
Big game = PK on campus.
— Ty Spalding (@TySpalding) November 7, 2024
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🎥: IG / pat_kelsey pic.twitter.com/gbQTavLPSG
This isn't Kelsey's first time doing this, and it matches his energy and persona. However, Kentucky fans laugh because the Wildcats are more likely to turn fans away because of capacity than to try to recruit people to come.
I kinda feel bad for the guy, Louisville fanbase just sucks
— Wildcat (@WildcatUKx) November 7, 2024
Pretty pathetic your coach has to go looking for people to go to the game https://t.co/Fu60zO8iGR
— Ken's Cats (@AmeriCat76) November 7, 2024
This first stunt had mixed reactions from Kentucky fans. Many said things like, "It's just sad," " This is pathetic that you have to recruit people to come to your game," or "The rivalry is dead." Some Wildcats fans loved the energy and thought it was fun.
The second marketing stunt brought out the laughs. Louisville sent free tickets to people who also worked out at Planet Fitness.
Presented without comment pic.twitter.com/VMP4mkLR2t
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) November 8, 2024
Kentucky fans had a field day with this one, and truly, it is a good laugh at a fanbase that has to give away tickets to a marquee matchup just to make sure the arena is full.
Man Louisville down so bad they’re trying to give free tickets to planet fitness members 😂😂😂 https://t.co/qqNMNNSBVz
— Nick Dierig (@DRock2211) November 8, 2024
Most of the comments to this tweet were the crying, laughing face. There were so many quote tweets and reactions with that emoji.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 https://t.co/yCWjeFwWnn
— kado (@ballknowercgk) November 8, 2024
Some may say that the rivalry is dead because of this sort of stuff, but the fact that Big Blue Nation is having a field day with it only proves how alive and well it actually is. Enjoy the trolling and trash-talking; that's what it's all about.