Kentucky women’s basketball has a clean slate approaching the 2024-25 season, and with the first game just around the corner, fans are gearing up for the first basketball action inside the newly renovated Historic Memorial Coliseum.
The $80-million renovation project significantly upgraded the venue that will serve as a permanent home for the Wildcats this upcoming season, a major piece to the puzzle that Kentucky is attempting to build with its new-look program.
After a 12-20 season last year shifting from the Clive M. Beck Center to Rupp Arena for home games, having the venue ready to go was a necessity for the program.
Head coach Kenny Brooks, signed out of Virginia Tech this offseason, has created a new hope for Kentucky fans and now they have a permanent ground on which they can show their support.
“For me, it’s been a heck of a six months,” Brooks said of the offseason. “I think the biggest thing is just the welcoming from Big Blue Nation, how everyone has been so interested in what we’re doing.”
With the court ready to be used for game action, up to 6,500 fans will be able to pack into the new venue and push on a Wildcat team with legitimate expectations.
Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart has ensured the seating will be closer to the court and a proper student section has been added along the sideline, thus creating an environment that hasn’t been felt by visiting opponents in quite some time.
With the news spreading, fans began buying season tickets at an unbelievable rate with a true sense of excitement in the air.
“I don’t know how good we’ll be in the beginning,” Brooks admitted. “But I do know that we’ll make everyone proud, because we’re going to work really really hard and we’re going to progress.”
Already, fans have seen Kentucky volleyball thrive in the new coliseum, sweeping its first weekend series in the debut and attracting fans to watch a top team in the nation.
With parking lots full, the vibe of the entire grand opening felt cinematic in a way that only a spectator could describe as the culture around Kentucky sports, both men’s and women’s, being one unlike any other. Simply put, Wildcat fans show out and they rarely disappoint when it comes to passion and undivided support.
”Obviously, this building and the upgrades (have) really put us in the position to attract high-level recruits,” Brooks said. “Along with the reputation of Kentucky, along with what we’ve done in the past as a coaching staff, so the sky’s the limit for us, and that’s something I wanted. I wanted that opportunity.”
Along with the newly updated venue, Kentucky debuted a brand new roster that has received compliments and high expectations, though Brooks hoped to temper some of those high hopes for year one.
“In this day and age of instant gratification, I think we all want it (success) fast,” Brooks said. “I think it’s my job to mentor, to teach these kids and amend their shortcomings. I don’t want to put a number on it, I don’t want to put a destination on it, I just want them to get better every day.”
On the new roster, only two names, Cassidy Rowe and Saniah Tyler, returned from last season.
“We went out and went in the portal and we didn’t want to always get the best players, we wanted to get the right players,” Brooks said. “Players that can come in and represent this university and our program and help us start something special, and I think we did a really good job.”
With the stage set, Kentucky will debut basketball inside Historic Memorial Coliseum on Friday, Oct. 18, for the annual Blue-White preseason event, which is set to start at 6 p.m. ET. The first game will take place on Monday, Nov. 4.
”This is a very exciting time for us,” Brooks said. “You can just smell basketball in the air.”
