Kentucky Basketball season ticket prices rise slightly ahead of loaded home schedule

If you’re a Kentucky Basketball season ticket holder, you can now renew your tickets for the 2025-26 season; when you do, you’ll probably notice that ticket prices and K Fund donations are going up a little bit. There’s a good reason why.

Most season ticket holders will see an average increase of 3%, or approximately $4-$7 per ticket per game. When you consider the home schedule, it’s well worth the price of admission. Thanks to new NCAA rules, teams can now host other Division I squads in preseason exhibitions; in turn, Mark Pope is bringing in some big names to test his squad from the top. Purdue, considered by most to be the No. 1 team going into next season, and Georgetown (University, not College) will come to Rupp Arena, replacing the in-state Division II foes Kentucky typically hosts during the preseason. Kentucky will also host North Carolina in the ACC/SEC Challenge, the first time the Tar Heels have come to Rupp Arena since 2014, and Indiana, the start of the four-year series between the old rivals. Add in another strong SEC slate, and this has to be one of the best home schedules in recent memory.

“There is no greater fanbase and no greater home court advantage than what Big Blue Nation provides in Rupp Arena,” Pope said in a press release about season ticket prices. “Our guys are pushing each other every single day to be great for all of BBN. We’re excited about our demanding schedule, because we cooked up a few really special matchups at home. We’re going to need our fans to bring it every night, and we promise to do the same as we chase No. 9 together.”

“Big Blue Nation’s passion and support play a huge role in Kentucky men’s basketball,” UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart said. “We’re reminded of our fans’ energy and commitment every day. We’re excited about the upcoming home schedule and the entire season to come. We can’t wait to welcome BBN back to Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center for another unforgettable season.”

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Another change: for the first time, all sections in Rupp Arena will require a K Fund donation, starting at $50 to $100 per seat. Season ticket holders will earn K Fund priority points for those donations, which can be used to buy tickets to road games and upgrade to different seats. This is only the second increase in season ticket prices and K Fund donations since 2019 and 2014, respectively, despite national inflation trends.

Of course, there is also revenue-sharing to consider now. Starting this school year, schools can distribute $20.5 million to their student-athletes across all sports. This shift, along with inflation and other rising costs, is expected to add $20 million to $30 million annually to the UK Athletics budget, essential money as Kentucky strives to remain competitive. After transitioning to Champions Blue LLC, the athletics department is also exploring new revenue streams, including a potential new entertainment district around Kroger Field. Ticket price changes may steal the headlines now, but they’re part of a broader effort across the department and university.

To view complete pricing information, visit UKathletics.com/MBBTix. The renewal deadline is Friday, Aug. 22. Those who renew by Aug. 1 are eligible for incentive prizes, including:

Five bonus K Fund priority points
Two complimentary tickets to a home football game (fans may choose between Toledo,
Eastern Michigan, and Tennessee Tech)
Twenty lucky winners will receive two Big Blue Madness tickets

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