Kentucky basketball is officially back, and so are the absolutely bonkers ticket prices that serve as an annual reminder of Big Blue Nation's unmatched passion (and perhaps questionable financial planning).
Want to see Mark Pope's squad take on No. 1 Purdue in Friday night's exhibition game? Get ready to open your wallet and possibly your savings account.
The cost of admission (even when it doesn't count)
According to Ticketmaster's resale market, catching the Cats vs. Boilermakers won't come cheap. The absolute cheapest seats listed, likely peering down from the rafters of Rupp Arena, were starting around $80 before fees as of Thursday morning. Factor in those notorious fees, and you're easily looking at $100 just to get in the door for a glorified scrimmage.
Want to sit closer to the action? Prepare for sticker shock. Lower-level seats were beginning around $178 before fees (closer to $200 after). And the most expensive pair listed? A cool $732 per ticket plus fees, meaning someone is asking roughly $1,500 for two seats to a game that doesn't impact the standings in any way.
What else could $1,500 buy?
Now, that's the asking price, not necessarily what people are paying. But the mere existence of such figures speaks volumes. For perspective, instead of buying those two pricey exhibition tickets, you could:
- Fly round-trip to Las Vegas for a weekend getaway.
- Snag decent seats for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.
- Attend an actual NBA playoff game in the lower bowl.
- Cover a month's rent in many apartments, and in some places 2 month's.
The unshakeable pull of Kentucky basketball
Yet, despite the eye-watering prices, Rupp Arena will almost certainly be packed to the brim on Friday night, even despite the injuries. Because that's the magnetic pull of Kentucky basketball. It transcends logic. It defies budgets. It moves people in a way few things can.
Even for an exhibition, the allure of seeing Mark Pope’s new team face its first major test against the nation's top-ranked squad is undeniable. Maybe BBN really is crazy, but it’s the best kind of crazy, and it's back in full force.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion