Mark Pope has promised the Blue-White Event will be very unique on Oct. 18. (UK Athletics Photo)
The Harrodsburg /Mercer County Tourism Commission feels like it “got pretty lucky” to have the opportunity to be the presenting sponsor for the Kentucky Blue-White Preseason Event Oct. 18 in Memorial Coliseum.
This will be the debut coaching experience for both Mark Pope and Kenny Brooks after a brief exposure for fans to the men’s and women’s teams at Big Blue Madness Oct. 11.
“We had state funds left from COVID. At the time we got the funds we had to list a project and we said that we wanted to do things at Rupp Arena to promote our area,” said Dario Gray, executive director of the commission. “We reached out last year about doing something but didn’t pull the trigger. We reconnected in late summer and a package for the Blue-White Event and also signage around the big screen (at Rupp Arena) all season was available, so we took it.
“We are really excited to be part of this new era of Kentucky basketball. Fans are really excited. Hopefully it will be a great turnout and get our logo and brand in front of thousands of fans.”
While all the details about the event are not quite nailed down, the Blue-White Event promises to be like no other previous Blue-White Game. Proceeds from the game will go to Club Blue to fund NIL for the basketball players. Also with the game in Memorial Coliseum, fewer fans will be able to attend but those who do will get a more intimate look at what Pope has promised will be a “real scrimmage” with his team and Brooks likely plans the same for the women.
“We will get multiple shout outs during the event. They even threw in a few tickets for the Blue-White Event and that’s pretty cool,” Gray said. “But we are doing this for name recognition. As people see Harrodsburg and Mercer County, hopefully that will drive them to our website and lead to visiting here. We try to attract people to our community to eat, sleep and have fun here.
“Our initial plan was just to be at Rupp Arena but then it worked out for the Blue-White Event and we even got a suite package. The money we had left had to be spent by the end of the year. So while it was not free money, it was money gifted to us to use and this is a great way to promote Harrodsburg and Mercer County.
“We’ve heard about a few towns doing something like this. Visit Myrtle Beach did it last year (at UK). We want people in Kentucky to travel right here. Kentucky games are attended by fans all over the state and if we can get some visitors here by doing this then we will have accomplished what we wanted to do.”
