Mark Pope (UK Athletics Photo)
What used to be preseason Blue-White Game is now the Blue-White Preseason Event presented by Club Blue, UK’s NIL partner, on Oct. 18 at Memorial Coliseum.
Both the men’s and women’s teams will have intrasquad scrimmages like previous years
This year the traditional Blue-White Event, featuring men’s and women’s basketball teams, will give fans a look at what new coaches Mark Pope and Kenny Brooks have on their first UK rosters.
The coaches will be “hosts” during the event and Pope said on Kentucky Sports Radio Thursday it will be a far different event.
“For us, we’re going to compete. It’s going to be game speed, full intensity, kind of pride and guts, blood and sweat on the floor type of scrimmage where our guys are trying to prove themselves,” Pope said. “We have a lot of guys trying to earn time, earn positions, learn how to play with each other.”
Pope said coaches would be “mic’d up” so fans could hear how they coach to give fans at Memorial an inside look at the team.
Tickets for this special event go on sale today at 10 a.m. ET at this link.
Tickets prices will be far different than previous Blue-White Games at Rupp Arena because of the format change and intent to raise money for NIL in an arena that seats fewer fans.
Prices start at $100 per ticket. Club Blue members will receive individual codes for discounted ticket offers as a thank-you for their ongoing support.
“This is a different kind of event,” UK athletics director Mitch Barnhart said in the Club Blue press release. “It’s more than a game — it’s an opportunity for our fans to connect with our teams in a meaningful way while also supporting our student-athletes through NIL initiatives. We are thankful to Big Blue Nation for their unwavering support as we navigate this new era of college athletics.”
“It’s going to be the greatest fan experience in terms of cheering these guys on and getting to know them, but it’s also going to be, in a sense, like a Coaches Clinic and an insider dive into who we are as a program,” Pope said.
10 Responses
I’d ante up a couple Ben Franklins to see a practice game – only because it’s where my wife and I had our first date – 53 years ago !
good for you Paul
They should have waited on renovating Memorial Coliseum because this team is going to shoot the lights out.
An all-out scrimmage to showcase players trying to get a starting role &/or big back-up role will give fans a chance to see who is excelling above others. Coach Pope is on top of it!
The event could be held in Rupp Arena where more fans could attend at a lesser cost per ticket and still raise more money than at Memorial Coliseum with the $100 tickets.
How can the high paid AD not understand and apply such simple math?
UK does not own Rupp Arena and this has to pay rent when it uses the Arena. UK owns Memorial and thus has no out of pocket expense for rent. I’ve always thought it was odd that the attendance for the Blue White Game was always so much less than Big Blue Madness as I always watched the guys scrimmage.
Good point Karen!
Right on all points Karen
Think I remember Pitino pushing for an on campus arena – would look nice in the Arboretum + plenty of parking .
Pitino knew the legendary UK should own its BB Arena and not be unable to practice in the very Arena where they host some of the top opponents in the nation. Every major program has their primary arena available to at least practice some instead of it being a rare place to practice.
The past decade, UK has co tinted to reduce the seating capacity at Rupp Arena AND at Commonwealth Stadium (before the name was sold out to a grocery chain).
There has been a lack of sound leadership in the UKAA for a long time. Just the 1/4 Century of TLT & the fraud is enough evidence without even considering reducing the seating capacities and other things. It’s OK to add suites for corporations, but the seating capacity did not have to be cut. Many major boosters were rooted out of their long-term seats with little regard to the faithful fans
Maybe my boy Crafty will leave the $ for an on campus BB arena in his last will and testament !?