Big Blue Madness, the unofficial tip-off to the 2015-16 men’s and women’s basketball seasons, has been set for Oct. 16 in Rupp Arena and ticket distribution will take place on Friday, Oct. 2.
Tickets are free again this year for the annual spectacle in Rupp Arena, which will feature introductions of both the men’s and women’s basketball teams, practice drills, videos, and more.
In another development, Rupp Arena officials announced an NBA exhibition game between the New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings will take place on Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. Former UK star Anthony Davis plays for the Pelicans while DeMarcus Cousins and Willie Cauley-Stein are on the Kings’ roster.
Tickets range from $10 to $250 and will go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. at Rupp Arena or through Ticketmaster.com.
UK will host Auburn on Oct. 15 in the first Thursday night football game in Commonwealth Stadium history. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m.
In a change from previous Big Blue Madness sessions, the ticket distribution will take place on Friday night to allow fans to attend the home football game versus Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, Oct. 3. The ticket distribution will take place on Friday, Oct. 2 at 10 p.m., following the 7 p.m. home UK volleyball match against Mississippi State.
Tickets for the 2015 Big Blue Madness will be available at 10 p.m. both at the Memorial Coliseum ticket windows on Euclid Avenue and online at UKathletics.com and Ticketmaster.com. All patrons require a ticket to Big Blue Madness, regardless of age.
A limited number of control cards will be issued to those camped out earlier on Friday, Oct. 2 at 2 p.m. All fans must be present to obtain their control cards and only one control card per person will be accepted at distribution.
Control cards will not be distributed after 10 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2, and all persons with control cards must be in line by 10 p.m.
At the request of campus public safety officials, fans wishing to line up ahead of time at Memorial Coliseum for ticket distribution are asked to do so no earlier than 5 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30. The athletic department will provide portable restroom facilities, but the use of permanent, wooden-type structures, portable generators, and propane tanks or other open flames used in cooking is prohibited due to safety concerns.
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products are not permitted. Additionally, selling sports tickets in excess of face value is illegal in Kentucky.
Big Blue Madness times and broadcast info, as well as more ticket and campout information will be released at a later date.
From UK Athletics