UK officials estimated that the change in the upper level will reduce capacity to about 20,500GETTY IMAGES
The Univ. of Kentucky will "replace bleachers along both sidelines with chair-back seating" at Rupp Arena in time for the '19-20 basketball season, according to Jerry Tipton of the LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER. UK also plans to add "three new clubs" on the west side of the arena. Except for construction of the clubs beginning in July, fans will "not notice any change" during the upcoming season. The added comfort "will come at a cost" for some fans. School officials said that fans in upper-level seats will be "required to go through the so-called 'seat selection process.'" The school said that there will be "no change for fans with seats in the lower level of Rupp Arena." UK officials estimated that the change from bleachers to chair-back seats in the upper level "will reduce Rupp Arena’s current listed capacity of 23,000 to about 20,500." The smaller capacity "could spell the end of Kentucky’s dominance in home attendance." In 42 seasons in Rupp Arena, Kentucky "has led the nation in attendance 28 times." The school said that the first two clubs are "expected to be ready" for the '19-20 season, and all three clubs will be "west of Rupp Arena and underneath a new exhibit hall." A fourth club will be added "for UK's use only." School officials "estimated that capacity of the clubs" to be about 3,000-4,000 (LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER, 5/26).
