📍 Lexington, Kentucky
🏀 Home of Kentucky Wildcats basketball

A bona fide blue blood, the Kentucky Wildcats are a dominant force in the world of college basketball. The school owns the sport’s all-time winning percentage and has also nabbed more victories than any other team. Kentucky’s incredible success has never dwindled, with their immense talent often on display at Rupp Arena, where the Wildcat faithful never fail to pack the house and cheer on their beloved “Big Blue.”

Opened in 1976 and named for legendary coach Adolph Rupp, who led the ‘Cats to four national titles during his tenure, Rupp Arena seats over 20,500 rabid fans and is situated in the heart of downtown Lexington. It serves as the anchor of Central Bank Center, a shopping and tourism hub, and recently underwent extensive renovations. In order to bring the arena up to date, the modernization took place over the course of several seasons, wrapping up in 2022.

In addition to a sparkling new lobby and entrance area, a major component of the arena’s facelift was the removal of most of the bleacher seating. Comfortable chairbacks have now taken the place of a lot of the old bench seating in the upper deck, though some bleachers remain in both ends. Unlike a lot of its peers, Rupp Arena also doesn’t contain a single luxury suite, and this element was purposefully ignored during the latest overhaul to allow for everyday fans to continue to pack the building and bring the energy on Wildcat game days.

One major pitfall of Rupp Arena is the lack of history on display throughout the venue. The Wildcats have won 8 national championships and are one of the most successful college basketball programs around, yet you wouldn’t know it walking down the hallways of the arena. Even a small museum-like area with trophies and lore from the annals of Kentucky basketball would do a lot to heighten the appeal of the otherwise bland concourse.

The pre-game festivities are entirely their own show, with incredible pyrotechnics adding a bit of flair to get the crowd hyped up. Before and during player introductions, indoor fireworks are shot out of the center-hung scoreboard, a spectacle unlike any other. And just before tip-off, listen for a trumpet playing Call to the Post, a unique nod to Kentucky’s rich horse racing enterprise. Streamers also fall on the rowdy student section, called the “eRUPPtion Zone”, after every Wildcat win.

It’s really the Kentucky fans that truly make a game at Rupp special. Night after night, Big Blue Nation brings the intensity and electrifies the streets of Lexington, cheering their Wildcats to victory. It’s one of the loudest houses in college hoops, something both serious and casual fans alike must experience at least once. While it’s no Hinkle or Allen Fieldhouse, you’d regret it if you didn’t head on down to Rupp Arena, grab yourself an ice cream cone and watch the craziness in Kentucky unfold.