John Clay's Sidelines

Lots of e-mail about my Saturday column concerning Kentucky basketball and the possibility of a new arena:

Jeff writes:

Good morning. Your story this morning is dead on, Brother. Please don’t let up on the pressure to kill this ludicrous idea. We need to spend the money on A LOT of other stuff before we have to worry about a new arena. Everything you mentioned about the other teams; Duke, Butler, Kansas…exactly what I’ve been saying and trying to prove to anyone that would listen to me!

The kids are signing here because of what Kentucky means to college basketball…Rupp arena will sell any kid on any given night. Just because a few, a very few, folks want suites, which half aren’t even UK alums, I’m sure…it’s crazy.

. . . I get why it’s important to THINK why we need a new arena. I work in Louisville so I’ve been all thru the new arena and we even built their new football stadium expansion (see my signature line) I knew UL’s recent “upgrades” weren’t going to sit well with the powers that be here at home. If, UK really wants to increase revenue and compete in the SEC where the REAL money is, then drop about $100 million in the football facilities, yes..Commonwealth too. Our weight room is waaaaaay behind the rest of the teams, we don’t have the proper academic learning center for the athletes like the rest of the schools do.

Richard writes:

Concerning your newspaper article entitled “Rupp Arena is good enough for Kentucky”, what you need to understand is that a new or greatly upgraded arena is not needed for our team’s success, the coach or even the players but rather is much needed for the fans. The well-to-do folks, of which I’m sure includes you, have great seats to sit in and watch the games. But for the less effluent of us who must sit in the upper arena, the bleachers are just a horrible place to sit for 2 plus hours. My guess is that no college arenas being built now have bleachers for seating. These bleachers must be replaced, either by renovation or a new arena. Having said that, I would agree that prior funding must be found outside of involving any tax-payer money. Usually I agree with your articles, but not this time.

Tom writes:

The facility our players compete in, and our fans go to, must be the gold standard. It can be nothing…less than that. I think on that we can all agree.” What can we expect from someone who hired Billy Gillespie? Also, saying that …..”I think on that we can ALL agree.” No, no, no!

You are certainly so right that we don’t need a bigger, better, flashier Rupp Area. The one we have is just fine!

Thank you for pointing out these teams that go to the Final Four and play in smaller, older facilities.

Kentucky, Lexington, and the university have financial challenges. All we need to win the Final Four is the good coach we have, the good players we have, those we are getting, and a little more practice on foul shots and they don’t need a Gold Standard arena to do it.

Gloria writes:

Great column in today’s Lexington Herald-Leader, pointing out that it is the team that makes the venue and not the other way around. I’ve been hoping someone would point that out.

Also good point that the “gold” Mayor Gray should be worried about is not how to make Rupp Arena more luxurious, but how to afford necessary personnel and services for Lexington-Fayette County.

Bob writes:

Really enjoyed your article in Friday’s paper concerning how UK’s jealousy is fueling this new arena issue. Sorry to take so long to voice my support, but thanks to Time Warner, internet was down all weekend.

You and I are on the same wavelength about this issue and I don’t know if that puts us in the minority. UK is all about money. How much can be raised, how fast, or what can we spend it on. This talk of a new arena started as UL was building theirs. It is a shame that Mitch Barnhart is so jealous of what UL finally got. Big deal! It’s new and has things to offer, but it isn’t Rupp Arena. A new arena is not needed, period. Mitch wants the fatcats to lay down big bucks, not to support the UK team, but rather “support” the UK pocketbook. It is all about money with UK and that upsets me with my school.

Shannon writes:

Your article has some common sense but then again UK basketball is not common. If the university wants it, the fans want, and the city wants it; well, why not?

U of L did not need a new arena (KFC YUM) either based on history of the building or size and seating capacity of the building. I don’t recall U of L not attracting top caliber talent prior to announcement of KFC Yum. But the university wanted it, the fans wanted it, and the city wanted it.

If the venue makes money or makes more money, why not? Why do you care? It’s called progress and growth.

Jon writes:

Thanks so much for your brave column yesterday. I think that you are very wise because your comments are pretty much what I have been saying ever since the Mayor formed his task force. Today’s comments by C. M. Newton are icing on the cake. IF a new arena is built I will not be surprised if it includes a separate ”place”, out of control of the SEC, that permits alcohol.

Whoever wrote the recent comment applauding Barnhart’s record of improving non-rev sports at UK must not have been sitting in the stands at Hagan Field last weekend with my wife and me thru three embarrassments against Auburn. This is the first year in a while that we will not attend an away SEC series.

Nate writes:

Loved the column today. Preach it. Let’s just call this what it is- jealousy that “little brother” has a nicer stadium. Other than that there is no viable reason UK needs one. As you pointed out, UK Athletics certainly isn’t hurting for cash. UofL didn’t need a new arena, Freedom Hall just needed to be freshened up, but by building a new stadium downtown it has brought the fans to the businesses and restaurants downtown. Rupp already does that. Let’s not forget that Lexington just built one useless stadium out at the horse park. We don’t need another one.