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Question for Kentucky fans re: Basketball travel
Posted on 1/7/16 at 10:27 am
Posted on 1/7/16 at 10:27 am
Since we are on the topic of traveling for games and how the playoff makes it tough, how do you guys deal with the NCAA Tournament (and to a lesser extent going to all these road games in conference during the week)?
Kentucky fans show up in droves wherever the Cats go in the tournament, and while recently you have played a lot of games within driving distance, they aren't all like that. Do most of you drive/fly to the various sites? Do you only go if it is close and high money folks fly to the Final Fours?
And piggy backing on that, how the heck do so many of you show up for a Tuesday night game in Tuscaloosa or Baton Rouge? What are the logistics of that?
Kentucky fans show up in droves wherever the Cats go in the tournament, and while recently you have played a lot of games within driving distance, they aren't all like that. Do most of you drive/fly to the various sites? Do you only go if it is close and high money folks fly to the Final Fours?
And piggy backing on that, how the heck do so many of you show up for a Tuesday night game in Tuscaloosa or Baton Rouge? What are the logistics of that?
Posted on 1/7/16 at 10:46 am to SummerOfGeorge
It's Kentucky. They don't have jobs.
Posted on 1/7/16 at 10:48 am to SummerOfGeorge
I live in DC, but make it a point to get to at least one game away from Rupp every year. Last year for example, I drove 8 hours down to Columbia, SC just to see us destroy South Carolina. Not only was it the closest conference game for me, but knowing that almost half of the arena would be blue and that it would be an opportunity to party with other UK fans beforehand made it worthwhile.
In the minds of a lot of UK fans, seeing the Cats on the road is even more exciting than seeing them in Rupp due to the party atmosphere that surrounds the game with fans who otherwise are stuck watching them on TV. At Rupp, most of the fans are season tickets holders and are used to seeing UK play. Simply put, when UK comes to these SEC arenas, it's like the circus has come to town and everything is extra hyped.
In the minds of a lot of UK fans, seeing the Cats on the road is even more exciting than seeing them in Rupp due to the party atmosphere that surrounds the game with fans who otherwise are stuck watching them on TV. At Rupp, most of the fans are season tickets holders and are used to seeing UK play. Simply put, when UK comes to these SEC arenas, it's like the circus has come to town and everything is extra hyped.
Posted on 1/7/16 at 10:49 am to SummerOfGeorge
There are alumni associations everywhere that set up and help the locals. Believe it or not there are quite a few fans that all live in the SEC area and so it's their only chance to see them play in person. Places drivable from Lexington, I know quite a few people that buy season tickets for that school and sell everything but the UK games. In the end, all you need to know is Blue gets in. You can try and stop it, but it's getting in.
Posted on 1/7/16 at 10:52 am to Bho
Bho is right. Alumni all over will drive to see the Cats play.
Eta: a bunch of Vet students at Auburn who did undergrad at UK will travel to venues to watch UK as well.
Eta: a bunch of Vet students at Auburn who did undergrad at UK will travel to venues to watch UK as well.
This post was edited on 1/7/16 at 10:57 am
Posted on 1/7/16 at 10:56 am to SummerOfGeorge
It's easier for must of us to see them on the road because it's hard to get tickets for Rupp Arena because it only holds 23,500-24,000 people. It's easier for people to get tickets to away games and tournament games, plus the people are usually more fun to be around. Atlanta and New Orleans are my favorite tournament locations.
Posted on 1/7/16 at 11:03 am to tWildcat
Thanks for the answers, have always been curious. I knew that getting into Rupp was near impossible and that is why so many go on the road and to the SEC Tournament every year, but I always was curious if people were nearby that showed up or if folks were retired of they just took a day off and rode down.
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