If you ever questioned the loyalty of true Kentucky basketball fans, just drive past Memorial Coliseum on UK’s campus over the next few days.
It’s that time of year when the temperature gets a little crisper, the smell of fall is in the air and Kentucky fans line the street to for a chance at tickets to see their beloved Wildcats take the court in Rupp Arena. About 100 people, like Rachel Friend from Pikeville are already setting up camp to get their hands on those tickets, and these aren’t even tickets to a game, they’re for Big Blue Madness, the team’s first practice of the season. “We look forward to it. We take our vacation time and use it for this. It’s fun!”
And Friend and all the others camped out on the sidewalk aren’t even officially in line yet. They are just in line, to get in line. Micah Riddle of Georgetown is one of the first in this pre-line. “This makes my eight year. I came the first year that Calipari was here and I’ve done it every year since. It’s worth it. You get to meet the players, both football and basketball so it’s definitely worth it for the tickets and stuff yeah!”
Wednesday at 5:00am, this growing crowd, will get to dash across the street and set up camp on the lawn in front of Memorial Coliseum in the “official line”. Tickets are free and will be given out Friday morning.