Lexington officials: Whether UK wins or loses, please don’t burn couches or break stuff
Thinking about burning a couch if the Kentucky men’s basketball team picks up a win or two this weekend?
The city of Lexington is advising you not to.
Kentucky will resume its NCAA Tournament run Friday night when it faces Tennessee for a spot in the Elite 8. If the Cats beat the Vols, they’ll reach the Elite 8 for the first time since 2019, with a chance to make their first Final Four appearance since 2015.
During previous tournament runs, big victories often sparked rowdy celebrations in the State Street area of downtown Lexington. Previous celebrations have included injuries, arrests, couch fires and flipped cars.
As UK prepares for its Sweet 16 matchup, city leaders are encouraging people in Lexington to celebrate responsibly.
“This is a thrilling time for Lexington, and we’re excited to celebrate the success of our hometown team,” Mayor Linda Gorton said in a press release. “We must work together to ensure that celebrations remain peaceful and safe.”
Lexington Police Department officials said they are prepared to respond if celebrations become disorderly. The department’s real-time intelligence center will also monitor celebrations.
“Criminal acts, such as destruction of property, tumultuous behavior, disorderly conduct or setting items or furniture on fire will not be tolerated,” Lexington police Commander Sam Murdock said. “We want this to be a good celebration.”
University of Kentucky police will increase officer presence on campus and in nearby areas before, during and after Friday’s game, said police Chief Joe Monroe. Additional staff will also be available to utilize the department’s campus security system, which includes over 4,000 cameras.
The Lexington Fire Department will have an incident management team on standby at Fire Station 6 on Scott Street, and various fire and EMS units will be in the area.
The Division of Code Enforcement has issued an “emergency abatement” to all property owners in the Waller and Elizabeth Street corridors, according to the city. The warning will remain in effect until 5 p.m. April 9, two days after the national championship game.
Residents in that corridor are encouraged to remove any indoor furniture from the curb and keep their homes free of trash and debris. Code Enforcement will be monitoring the standard celebration areas for violations.
Code Enforcement will remove items in violation of the abatement from the property if necessary, according to the city. The city’s waste management division will also assist in street sweeping to clear debris from streets.
Tipoff between the Cats and Vols is scheduled for 7:39 p.m. The game will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and can be watched on TBS.
This story was originally published March 28, 2025 at 12:54 PM.
