How will a return to Memorial Coliseum affect Kentucky WBB?
On March 28, during his introductory press conference, newly hired head coach Kenny Brooks said that the recently renovated Memorial Coliseum was key in his journey to Lexington.
Memorial Coliseum was previously home to Kentucky Women’s Basketball, as well as volleyball, gymnastics, and the STUNT team. As the biggest investment in women’s sports in school history, the renovations include a totally redone facility, complete with new weight rooms, a state-of-the-art court, brand new lounges, concourses, and electronic systems.
Coach Brooks himself made sure to stress the importance of upgraded facilities in sports. Facilities are important for all parties involved, not just the players.
“In this day and age, it matters. It really does. It’s an arms race sometimes for facilities,” Brooks said in his introductory press conference. “You have to have something really nice to be able to lure them in. I’m a firm believer, it’s not necessarily the building, it’s what’s in the building.
So, how will these renovations affect Kentucky Women’s Basketball moving forward?
Attendance
This past season, Kentucky WBB played its games at Rupp Arena, which seats 20,500 fans. The women’s basketball games averaged somewhere around 1,231 fans per game. An empty arena can make for a disappointing experience for the players, but a new Memorial Coliseum will definitely change that. The previous capacity for the Coliseum was 8,500, now, Memorial is estimated to fit 6,500 fans. That’s a 23.5% reduction from the original capacity, but that could be beneficial for the ‘Cats.
With a move back to Memorial definitely comes some setbacks. For example, limited parking for fans. The main lot at Memorial Coliseum is pretty small. Plus, the building is located on UK’s campus, meaning there’s no free parking anywhere. Unless it’s the weekend or past 7:00 p.m., good luck finding a space you won’t pay at least $2 per hour for. While the schedule hasn’t been released yet, it’s safe to say that a majority of the games will be on weekdays, before free parking begins.
Going back to the 2022-23 season — the last in which Memorial was in use — we know that an average of 3,695 fans attended home games, per the Herald-Leader. With so much excitement around the program, that’s not a lofty goal to try and reach.
Better facilities
Just like Coach Brooks said, facilities are important to a team’s productivity. Even though I’ve never seen the previous weight room Kentucky Women’s Basketball used, it’s not a stretch to say that this “new and improved” facility will be just that. With a brand-new weight room, court, offices, and more, productivity and morale should be through the roof. Frankly, this Kentucky team has done a complete 180 since March and hasn’t stopped yet.
The new Memorial (plus a new coach and roster) feels like a completely fresh start for the program. New and upgraded facilities and equipment would not only improve morale but would also give the players access to things they didn’t have before. This kind of investment into women’s sports is exactly what Kentucky needed to give the program an extra boost.
Different shooting backdrop
Basketball is a mental game. Ever seen that video of the BYU Student Section’s free throw distraction? Well, Kentucky WBB could be getting one of its very own. In this rendering of the new Memorial, there’s a baseline seating section, something that wasn’t there before. A couple of years ago, the baseline was reserved for press and… empty space. Now, it looks like that space is getting used to seat more fans.
While there could be some drawbacks to a new shooting backdrop, it shouldn’t take too long for the team to get used to its new scenery. Plus, Big Blue Nation can get a little bit crazy when the opposing team is shooting on that end.
More convenient location for students
The ‘Cats played at Rupp Arena this past season, located in the heart of downtown. As someone who attended every single game, it was pretty apparent that there was a lack of student attendance. While that could be because of the losses Kentucky faced, it could’ve also been caused by the inconvenient location.
Now, on-campus students won’t have to worry about paying for parking, walking downtown at night, or even just dealing with the busy streets. Students can leave their dorm and walk to a Women’s Basketball game in less than 15 minutes. Plus, the games are free admission for students, which could drive up attendance. Here’s to hoping that Kentucky decides to add a reserved student section — may be unrealistic, but a girl can dream.
No Rupp Arena ice cream…
And, perhaps the saddest realization of all. No more (self-titled) World Famous Rupp Arena ice cream. Fortunately, with updated facilities, including concessions stands, there’s a possibility that Taylor Belle’s, or that famous soft serve, could make its way to Memorial Coliseum.
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