Rupp Arena

Rupp Arena is an arena located in downtown Lexington, Kentucky, USA. It is the centerpiece of Lexington Center, a convention and shopping facility owned by an arm of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, Lexington's consolidated city-county government. The arena was the host of the 1985 NCAA Final Four.

Related Topics:
Arena - Lexington, Kentucky - USA - Lexington Center - Consolidated city-county - 1985 NCAA Final Four

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The arena's primary tenant is the men's basketball program of the University of Kentucky; it also formerly hosted the Kentucky Thoroughblades (currently the Cleveland Barons) and the Lexington Men O' War minor-league hockey teams, and continues to host Lexington Horsemen arena football (capacity 7,550), numerous concerts (theater capacity 2,300; concert hall 10,000; arena capacity 23,500), conventions, and other events. It is named after UK coaching legend Adolph Rupp, and opened in 1976, a little more than a year before Rupp's death in late 1977.

Related Topics:
Basketball - University of Kentucky - Kentucky Thoroughblades - Lexington Men O' War - Hockey - Lexington Horsemen - Arena football - Adolph Rupp - 1976 - 1977

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The arena has an official capacity for basketball of 23,000, but has packed in over 24,000 for many UK basketball games. This is possible because only about one-third of the seating consists of chair-back seats, all of them in the lower seating bowl. The lower bowl also incorporates a student standing-room area called the "eRUPPtion Zone" behind one goal. The upper bowl is completely made up of bleachers. Unlike many arenas built in the following years, it has no luxury suites, and has never been renovated to add them; the demand for UK basketball tickets is so overwhelming that adding suites would inevitably reduce the capacity and possibly lead to a fan backlash. It has a deserved reputation as one of the most intimidating venues for opposing teams in college basketball.

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