New Arena Same Old Story!!!

Let me first start by saying that I think it is high time that the UK Basketball team gets a new arena. My problem with the proposed arena is that it is not going to be on campus and it will still not be owned by the University of Kentucky. The proposed plan calls for the arena to be owned by the current owners of Rupp Arena and The Lexington Center. To me this is just plain ludicrous!

I am sure this arena will be state of the art, but I just can't help but feel that the atmosphere would be so much better if the arena was located on campus. Some of the toughest venues in the country for opposing teams to play are at locations that are on a school campus. I'm not sure why the powers that be at UK would not want the arena to be located on campus.

I am not sure what the proposed agreement is between UK and the arena owners, but there has to be some type of yearly compensation for UK to play in the arena. At one time during the 1980s and early 1990s each time UK had a basketball game in Rupp Arena they had to pay approximately $55,000.00. I have a few questions? Why pay to play in an arena that you are not even able to practice in? Why pay to play in an arena where there could be scheduling conflicts because there are so many other types of entertainment shows to be scheduled around?

Other than the debt that comes along with a new arena, I am not sure why UK officials would not want to own their own basketball arena. First off, much of the cost of the arena would be paid for by donations. The Craft Center is an excellent example of this. When it comes to UK basketball, alumni and fans will donate money at the drop of a hat. If there was any debt left after donations, the arena could be paid for in no time because UK would be able to profit from all ticket sales, all memorabilia sales, and all concession sales which is not the case with the current or proposed plan.

When it comes to basketball, UK is the most distinguished program in the country. In my opinion, the most logical step forward for UK Athletics is to own and control all sporting venues. An on campus arena owned by the university would take the program to a whole new level!