Education

Campout for UK’s Big Blue Madness tickets will cause parking changes on campus

Tim Banks set up his tent at the Big Blue Madness campout outside of Memorial Coliseum on Avenue of Champions in Lexington, Ky., Wednesday, September 27 2017. Big Blue Madness, the first open practice opportunity for UK’s 2017-18 men’s and women’s basketball teams, is Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. in Rupp Arena. Starting at 5 a.m. this morning, fans were allowed to start camping out for the free tickets which will be available Friday, Sept. 29, at 10 p.m. at the Memorial Coliseum ticket windows on Avenue of Champions.
Tim Banks set up his tent at the Big Blue Madness campout outside of Memorial Coliseum on Avenue of Champions in Lexington, Ky., Wednesday, September 27 2017. Big Blue Madness, the first open practice opportunity for UK’s 2017-18 men’s and women’s basketball teams, is Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. in Rupp Arena. Starting at 5 a.m. this morning, fans were allowed to start camping out for the free tickets which will be available Friday, Sept. 29, at 10 p.m. at the Memorial Coliseum ticket windows on Avenue of Champions. cbertram@herald-leader.com

Big Blue Madness Campout, taking place this weekend, will impact parking and traffic at the University of Kentucky beginning Friday afternoon.

Big Blue Madness Campout, the event where UK fans camp out around Memorial Coliseum to get free tickets to the first open practice for men’s and women’s basketball teams, starts at 5 a.m. on Saturday. The campout runs until 9 a.m. on Sunday when tickets go on sale at Memorial Coliseum. Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster.

UK employees will see parking and traffic changes beginning Friday because of the campout, UK said. The College View Lot, off Rose Street, will close to additional traffic at 3 p.m., and all employees should move their vehicles by 7 p.m. After that time, remaining vehicles will be moved to the Memorial Coliseum Lot.

From 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 40 parking spaces in the Gatton Student Center Visitor Lot will be reserved.

UK Police will be on site throughout the event, UK said. Those participating in the campout are not allowed to set up before 5 a.m. on Saturday.

Camping is limited to the following areas, according to UK Athletics:

  • The southeastern portion of the main entrance of Memorial Coliseum
  • The east side of the Memorial Coliseum and the Joe Craft Center
  • The east entrance of the main way of the Craft Center
  • Portions of the College View Lot, between Wildcat Coal Lodge and Rose Street.

Big Blue Madness is scheduled for Oct. 14 at 7 p.m.

Monica Kast
Lexington Herald-Leader
Monica Kast covers higher education for the Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com. Previously, she covered higher education in Tennessee for the Knoxville News Sentinel. She is originally from Louisville, Kentucky, and is a graduate of Western Kentucky University. Support my work with a digital subscription
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