LEXINGTON, Ky. – Tickets for the 2022 edition of Big Blue Madness at Rupp Arena presented by Kinetic by Windstream will be available at 9 a.m. Oct. 2 at the Memorial Coliseum ticket windows on Avenue of Champions, online at Ticketmaster.com and through the Ticketmaster App. Big Blue Madness, the first open practice opportunity for the 2022-2023 UK men’s and women’s basketball teams, is scheduled for October 14 at 7 p.m.
Tickets are free again this year for the annual spectacle at Rupp Arena in the Central Bank Center, which will feature introductions of the men’s and women’s basketball teams, practice drills, videos and more. Tickets go on sale Oct. 2 at Memorial Coliseum ticket windows on Avenue of Champions and online at Ticketmaster.com and through the Ticketmaster app.
All patrons require a ticket to Big Blue Madness, regardless of age. There will be a limit of two tickets per control card at Memorial Coliseum ticket distribution. Online orders will have a minimum service charge attached and there will be a limit of two tickets per family. All duplicate orders will be automatically cancelled. UK Athletics cannot guarantee that fans will receive tickets by queuing or going online.
A limited number of check-in cards will be issued to those who have camped at 6pm on October 1st. All fans must be present to receive their check-in card and wristband, and no more than four check-in cards will be distributed per tent.
Fans with control cards are encouraged to begin lining up at 7:30 a.m. Sunday morning for ticket distribution beginning at 9 a.m. Fans will receive a maximum of two control card tickets on Sunday morning and only one control card per person will be accepted in distribution. All customers with a check card must be in line by 9am on October 2nd.
The campsite
At the request of campus public safety officials, fans wishing to line up ahead of time at Memorial Coliseum for ticket distribution are asked to do so no earlier than 5 a.m. on October 1. Advanced configurations and pre-installation will not be allowed. At that time, campers are expected to be courteous to other Wildcat fans and use caution when crossing Avenue of Champions and Rose Street toward the Memorial Coliseum and Joe Craft Center blocks to get a spot in line. Public safety officials will be on site to facilitate a safe move. Campers exhibiting unsafe or disorderly behavior risk being kicked out of line.
In order to support the regular operation of the campus and facilitate student pedestrian routes, this year’s camp area will be limited to the following areas:
- Southeast section of Memorial Coliseum’s main entrance
- Along the east side of Memorial Coliseum and the Joe Craft Center
- Along the east entrance of the main entrance road of the Craft Center
- A designated section of the College View Lot (between Wildcat Coal Lodge and Rose Street)
Campers are expected to be respectful of fellow campus students, students, faculty, staff, security officials, and pedestrians (keeping sidewalks and walkways clear) while on campus and to abide by all university policies governing campus behavior. Privately owned animals must be attended and restrained and, unless performing duties as service animals or service animals in training, are not permitted on University buildings and structures. The university will operate normally. Failure to comply with university policies may result in immediate revocation of camping privileges.
UK Athletics cannot guarantee a place for those wishing to pre-line at 5am on Saturday. Once available fan space has reached capacity, remaining fans will be directed to purchase tickets online at Ticketmaster.com and through the Ticketmaster app. As in previous years, UK Athletics will inform fans when the available space has reached capacity and they are unlikely to receive control cards for ticket distribution in person.
The athletic department will provide portable restrooms, but the use of permanent wood-type structures, portable generators, and propane tanks or other combustible/open flames used in cooking/heating is prohibited due to safety concerns. Campers may not drive or drill poles into the pavement to secure tents in parking areas. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products are not allowed. Additionally, selling sports tickets above face value is illegal in Kentucky.
Parking and Transportation
Fans camping for the Big Blue Madness ticket distribution may use the College View or Lindenwalk lots in addition to the Cornerstone garage beginning Sept. 30 after 5 p.m. Additional parking options include LexPark locations downtown, supported by one of the many LexTran transportation routes to travel to and from campus. The Rupp Arena High Street portion will be open for their day rates and will allow overnight parking. Parking will return to campus control on October 2nd at noon.
The Coliseum lot will be monitored by UK Transport Services. Only vehicles authorized by UK employees will be allowed to enter, unless guests use the metered spaces to enter the UK Ticket Office. The Coliseum lot will also be reserved on Saturday for Volleyball game day parking. Part of the student center will not be available. Violators will be relocated.
Campus safety officials request that campers not block bike lanes and/or sidewalks with their vehicles at any time. Vehicles left unattended or creating a traffic hazard will be cited and/or towed.
Activities of fans and sponsors
The UK Sports Network will once again produce live video streaming coverage of the Big Blue Madness camping event with the Kinetic Presented by Windstream streaming Tent City Live. Broadcast out of the Joe Craft Center and Wildcat Coal Lodge, the live stream will be streamed Saturday from 6:30-7:30pm ET at UKathletics.com/tentcitylive and live on the Kentucky men’s basketball Facebook account.
UK Sports Network talent will be on stage for a night of interviews and roundtable discussions previewing the season ahead. Fans are encouraged to submit questions and comments via Twitter at @UKSportsNetwork to answer on the live stream.
Additionally, UK Athletics will host a watch party for the UK-Ole Miss football game airing on ESPN at noon. Campers will also be provided free admission to the 4:00 pm volleyball match inside Memorial Coliseum featuring the five-time defending Southeastern Conference champions and Alabama.
UK Sports and Campus Marketing partners will also work with UK teams to share food and drink with campers during their stay. While supplies last, LaRosa’s will be offering pizza on Saturday night and Coca-Cola products will be available to all campers throughout the weekend. Additionally, Screamin’ Mimi’s will be on site with salsa samples during the UK-Ole Miss football game.
For the latest on the Kentucky men’s basketball team, follow @KentuckyMBB at I tweet, Facebook and Instagram, and on the web at UKathletics.com. For info on the @KentuckyWBB team, follow along I tweetFacebook and Instagram.
