Kentucky football, men's basketball student ticket prices increasing significantly

The revenue-sharing era of college sports is upon us, and with it come new realities. Last week, the University of Kentucky announced new student ticket prices for football and men’s basketball for the 2025-26 season. They are substantially higher than last season.

Student football season passes now cost $145, a 61% increase from a year ago. Men’s basketball season passes are $345, a 72.5% increase from last season. Football and men’s basketball single-game tickets will now cost $15-$40, up from $11-$20 last year. A decade ago, student tickets for men’s basketball games cost only $5. The times, they are a-changin’.

UK Student Football and Men’s Basketball Season Ticket Prices

• Football Season Pass
  • 2025: $145
  • 2024: $90
  • 61% increase
• Men’s Basketball Season Pass
  • 2025-26: $345
  • 2024-25: $200
  • 72.5% increase
• Football and Men’s Basketball single-game student tickets
  • 2025-26: $15-$40
  • 2024-25: $11-$20 
  • 36% – 100% increase

This move comes a week after Kentucky announced it will phase out employee and faculty ticket discounts, and require full-price tickets for children, regardless of age; previously, Kentucky charged a $10 fee for children to sit in the laps of their parents for football and men’s basketball games. UK said the changes are a result of the financial realities of the House Settlement, inflation, and other rising costs, which are expected to add $20–$30 million annually to UK Athletics’ budget. One positive change: no more hidden fees. Ticket prices will include all fees up front.

“UK Athletics remains committed to providing a variety of ticket options and maintaining a great home advantage, while adjusting to market forces and the revenue growth required for our programs to strive toward championships.

“Student ticket pricing for the 2025 season has been updated to better align with national peers; however, no student fees will be directed toward UK Athletics. Student athletics fees were phased out in 2018, making the UK one of a small number of institutions in the country with no student fees directed toward intercollegiate athletics.”

No one likes it when prices go up, but this is just an unfortunate reality of this new era of college sports.