The crazies as I have noticed on TV are only on one side for the first few rows (lower arena only has 10 rows according to seating chart) . Cameron is so small (9500) the camera never shows the area behind the crazies because the cameras aren't set high enough to see over them during regular game play.

 

I would love to see the Erupption zone moved behind the team benches, it would give Rupp a lot of the same feel. At least put the Erupption zone on the opponents end of the court, let them play into it during the second half when it is crunch time.

That would be a great place to be a student fan at Duke, sitting over there, doing that. I can tell you from small versions of doing this myself that doing that during a basketball game is FUN. Rupp does die, because most of the fans are older than college age and don't have the enthusiasm as the younger college students do. The reason that there are so many UK fans is that UK is the only sports team in the state of Kentucky that means anything to the general fan. Kentucky does not have an NBA, NFL, MLB (minor league yes but not major league), or even an NHL professional team. UK has so much pressure because that it is the only sport in the state and, unlike other states where the pressure is spread over the varius teams, UK gets all of it.

 

It would be great to have the "E'rupp'tion Zone to be behind the benches and on the side. I would love to see that, and maybe Billy Clyde will push for that so there will be way more excitement during the game.

Obviously, its all about money, but UK at Rupp Arena isn't even on the same level as Duke at Cameron Indoor.

 

I'm confused. In one breath UK fans Rupp to hold 30,000 people and be a massive tribute to UK Nation. Now, in the next breath, UK fans want the cozy, loud, and energized atmosphere of a 9,314 seat arena.

 

The atmosphere at Cameron is AWESOME. No one disagrees. Having the wall of students on the opposite side is very cool, but the sound and intimidation is greatly aided by the fact that it is tiny.

 

It'd be hard to have it both ways.

 

A new arena with luxury suites for the "big money grips" would allow the opportunity to put more students down low. However, if you want that bone-chilling noise you're going to have to dramatically cut down the size of the building...good luck getting anyone to approve less seats.

I have been on record for a long while saying I would not oppose a smaller arena...

I disagree. I've been to games where the fans started getting fairly loud when UK was down and had not even came close to a 15-2 run.

 

:thumb:

 

The fans get loud on two occasions...

 

1) When UK goes on a big run.

 

2) When the team falls behind and the crowd is trying to urge them on.

I wonder how Cameron Indoor compared to Memorial Colliseum. I have heard that Memorial was always rocking and a great atmosphere.

 

Can you imagine going to a game and watching Dan Issell score 40, Pete Maraovich scoring 55 and UK winning 110-to 80 something. I would have loved to see that.