Kentucky eyes Memorial Coliseum naming rights, uniform patches in revenue push

[Matt Dillon]

As part of its efforts to generate revenue in the new era of college sports, the University of Kentucky is exploring selling the naming rights to one of its flagship venues. According to Jon Hale, JMI Sports President Paul Archey said at the Champions Blue LLC Board of Governors meeting last week that Memorial Coliseum is one of seven unsold assets the school is shopping for naming-rights deals on.

Memorial Coliseum is home to Kentucky Women’s Basketball, Volleyball, Gymnastics, and STUNT, and recently underwent an $82 million renovation. The building opened in 1950 and was also home to the men’s basketball team before Rupp Arena opened in 1976. It was named in honor of the more than 9,000 servicemen and women from Kentucky who died in World War II and also honors those who have fallen in the Korean War, Vietnam War, and subsequent military service.

Kentucky eyes Memorial Coliseum naming rights, uniform patches in revenue push

[Matt Dillon]

Dear old history and tradition ladened Memorial Coliseum. I guess nothing's safe these days.

[WeWant9]

Love it or hate it, this is the now the path for college athletics. It's an arm's race to have the most $. I personally don't think any of the current model is sustainable, but what do I know..

[South jones]

I can still remember, verbatim Cawoods opening intro to every Wildcat basketball game when they played in Memorial Coliseum.


''HELLO EVERYBODY, THIS IS CAWOOD LEDFORD COMING TO YOU TONIGHT FROM MEMORIAL COLISEUM ON THE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY Of KENTUCKY in lexington as the WILDCATS GET SET TO TAKE ON.THE TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS''

THAT INTRO WAS MAGIC.TO ME IN THOSE DAYS.

[bthaunert]

Love it or hate it, this is the now the path for college athletics. It's an arm's race to have the most $. I personally don't think any of the current model is sustainable, but what do I know..

There is no way it's sustainable. The biggest impact will be on non-revenue sports. They account for about 20% of the expenses and bring in less than 1% of the revenue. Right now, in order to be an FBS school, you must offer 16 teams of which 8 must be women's teams. There are currently 10 women's teams, 8 men's teams and 1 coed team right now. I would immediately get rid of stunt and women's golf to get down to 8 and 17. I would then get rid of men's soccer to get down to 16 teams.

Stunt carried 60 athletes and has a new roster limit of 55 (all scholarship), women's golf is 9 scholarships and men's soccer is 28 scholarships. You're immediately getting rid of 92 scholarships which account for about $3.7 million in expenses. You're also getting rod if 11 full-time staff dedicated to those programs. That probably frees up another $1 million in salaries. Then add in less athletics trainers, support staff and travel and you're probably around $6 million you're saving.

That's where I would start first.

[Catgrad7072]

I can still remember, verbatim Cawoods opening intro to every Wildcat basketball game when they played in Memorial Coliseum.


''HELLO EVERYBODY, THIS IS CAWOOD LEDFORD COMING TO YOU TONIGHT FROM MEMORIAL COLISEUM ON THE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY Of KENTUCKY in lexington as the WILDCATS GET SET TO TAKE ON.THE TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS''

THAT INTRO WAS MAGIC.TO ME IN THOSE DAYS.

Me too, thanks for the memories SJ. Those were the days ...................

[South jones]

It's nice that there are still some fans left that remember those days

Memorial Coliseum was tabbed THE HOUSE THAT RUPP BUILT. THE CATS SET THE RECORD FOR MOST CONSECUTIVE HOME WINS AT 129 .IN THAT BUILDING
AND THE RECORD STILL STANDS

[Pobilly]

Yeah I would hate to see Memorial Coliseum presented by Big Ass Fans. Or see Country Boy Brewing patches on the uniforms of the teams. UK football helmet with BIG ASS FANS on the back. I know times are different and we see Jeff Ruby on just about every jockey uni out there. But to look down and see the Alabama or Penn State unis with logos would be sad. Welcome to the new college athletics.

[Trueblujr]

Dear old history and tradition ladened Memorial Coliseum. I guess nothing's safe these days.

As long as they keep Memorial in the name, then I'd be fine I guess.

[CATHYnKY]

Unfortunately, this is the way it is. I doubt if every UK fan in the world wrote a protest letter, it would change anything.

[Matt Dillon]

Unfortunately, this is the way it is. I doubt if every UK fan in the world wrote a protest letter, it would change anything.

Probably not.

[rupp876]

There is no way it's sustainable. The biggest impact will be on non-revenue sports. They account for about 20% of the expenses and bring in less than 1% of the revenue. Right now, in order to be an FBS school, you must offer 16 teams of which 8 must be women's teams. There are currently 10 women's teams, 8 men's teams and 1 coed team right now. I would immediately get rid of stunt and women's golf to get down to 8 and 17. I would then get rid of men's soccer to get down to 16 teams.

Stunt carried 60 athletes and has a new roster limit of 55 (all scholarship), women's golf is 9 scholarships and men's soccer is 28 scholarships. You're immediately getting rid of 92 scholarships which account for about $3.7 million in expenses. You're also getting rod if 11 full-time staff dedicated to those programs. That probably frees up another $1 million in salaries. Then add in less athletics trainers, support staff and travel and you're probably around $6 million you're saving.

That's where I would start first.

I'm not for eliminating women's golf but I'm all for eliminating men's soccer. I have no idea what stunt is.

[rupp876]

It's nice that there are still some fans left that remember those days

Memorial Coliseum was tabbed THE HOUSE THAT RUPP BUILT. THE CATS SET THE RECORD FOR MOST CONSECUTIVE HOME WINS AT 129 .IN THAT BUILDING
AND THE RECORD STILL STANDS

I think that was 86 games at Alumni and 43 at Memorial wasn't it?

[South jones]

Yes, that is correct but ?ecause of my fondness for the old gym I'm sticking with MEMORIAL COLISEUM. Lol

[bthaunert]

I'm not for eliminating women's golf but I'm all for eliminating men's soccer. I have no idea what stunt is.

Stunt was added as a varsity sport in 2022 and carries 55 women on the team moving forward...there were 66 on the roster this past year. Only 7 power programs offer it and only 3 in the SEC. It's team acrobatics and tumbling set to music.

I think the ones that are going to be on the chopping block the most across collegiate athletics are going to be tennis (which is already happening) and potentially men's soccer. Those rosters are about 80% - 90% international students and most schools require the athletic department to pay the tuition, room and board at the international rate, which is expensive. At UK, 11 of the 14 players listed on the men's soccer team are from outside the US, 7 of the 8 players on the men's tennis team are from outside the US and 4 of the 8 on the women's team are from outside the US.