UK Athletics announced via social media on Wednesday that the 2024 Big Blue Madness event will take place on an ASB GlassFloor.
The glass flooring will cover LED video boards to allow for images and effects to be put on the court itself during the contest.
The decision makes college basketball history, marking the first collegiate sporting event to utilize the new technology after the NBA All-Star Game, FIBA U19 World Cup and the Basketball Champions League all did so prior.
New Kentucky head coach Mark Pope had promised to bring life back to Big Blue Madness prior to the announcement, with the event having lost a lot of its luster in recent years. Pope spoke on the news after it was made public.
“This is something that’s never been seen in college basketball before,” Pope said on social media. “Big Blue Madness is one of the great spectacles in all of sports. We are so excited for Kentucky Basketball to be the first college program to partner with ASB GlassFloor, bringing this exciting technology to Big Blue Nation. Our team can’t wait to put on a show in Rupp Arena on Oct. 11.”
New Kentucky women’s basketball head coach Kenny Brooks also spoke about the announcement, expressing excitement for the upcoming event and the cutting edge technology being utilized.
“We look forward to putting on a show for Big Blue Nation at our first Big Blue Madness with the ASB GlassFloor as part of the spectacle,” Brooks said to UK Athletics. “Big Blue Madness is famous throughout the college basketball world. Since we saw the ASB GlassFloor at the U19 World Cup last year, we’ve been intrigued by the possibilities playing on this court. We’re excited to add this exciting technology to what promises to be an entertaining night in Rupp Arena.”
The event, which traditionally “introduces” Kentucky fans to both the men’s and women’s basketball teams, is slated to take place on Friday, Oct. 11, inside Rupp Arena.
With both the men’s and women’s teams having new coaches and nearly entirely new rosters, excitement and expectations are high after fans had soured on former coaches John Calipari and Kyra Elzy.
With new teams, new effects and new energy around both programs, the action will all start on October 11 inside Rupp Arena. The event is set to begin at 7 p.m. ET, with fans able to get tickets starting on Sept. 27.
