Rupp Arena throwing free postgame party after Kentucky-Purdue exhibition

We’re just ten days away from Kentucky’s exhibition vs. Purdue. Rupp Arena is pulling out all the stops for the game against the No. 1 Boilermakers on October 24, throwing its first-ever Postgame Party for fans outside the building.

The party will take place from 7-10 p.m. ET outside the Vine Street entrance (across from Triangle Park). The event is free to the public, but food and beverage concessions will be available for purchase. Owensboro native Cam Thompson, described as a “rising force in the alt-country scene” in the press release, will be performing live music and debuting his new single, “Lexington.” Thompson’s breakout single, “Women Made Me This Way,” garnered over a million streams across all platforms and earned him a Hollywood Independent Music Award.

“I couldn’t be more excited to debut Lexington at the Rupp Arena Post-Game Party. There isn’t a more fitting place for me to be for the day of release!” Thompson said.

The game starts at 6 p.m. ET, so the party should be well underway by the time it’s over, making for a lively atmosphere outside Rupp. We’ll have to take Rapid Reactions down there to check it out.

Here is some of Cam Thompson’s music if you want to check it out, along with his bio from the press release.

Born and raised in Owensboro, Kentucky, the “Bluegrass Capital of the World”—Cam grew up immersed in music, with bluegrass and rock & roll serving as the soundtrack to his early years. Though his passion for music was evident from a young age, it wasn’t until his late teens that he fully committed to his craft, developing a distinctive style that seamlessly blends traditional country with the grit and edge of modern alt-country.

A finalist at the Inspirational Country Music Awards, Cam has also had the opportunity of performing on stage of the Grand Ole Opry. Rooted in the rich musical heritage of Kentucky yet unafraid to push boundaries, he is carving a unique path in alt-country—honoring tradition while forging a sound that is unmistakably his own.

Pope eager for early test vs. No. 1 Purdue

Hopefully, we’re all celebrating beating the No. 1 team in the country to tip off an exciting season. The Boilermakers earned 35 of the 61 first-place votes in the Preseason AP Poll on Monday, while Kentucky came in ninth. Mark Pope can’t wait to challenge his team from the jump, a matchup only made possible by the NCAA changing the rules to allow Division I teams to play each other in the preseason.

“I think it’s fun for our fans. I think it’s elite for us. Not only do we get to play the preseason No. 1-ranked team in the country, and we get to do it before the season even starts, but they’re also a veteran, veteran, veteran team that functions probably better together than any team in the country,” Pope said at Media Day.

“So it’s going to test us before the season even starts in a really special way, and we need that. We need that. It gives us great data points to grow and figure things out, and challenge us. I love it. I’m really grateful.”

If you can’t be at Rupp for the exhibition and party, you can watch it live on the SEC Network.