Rupp Arena
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Rupp Arena is home of the University of Kentucky Wildcats and Big Blue Nation's college basketball team, where you can witness what is known by many as "The Greatest Tradition in College Basketball"!! As of 2023, Kentucky basketball recruiting is among one of the best in the nation. The team won their last NCAA tournament in 2012, and also was the runner up in 2014. Since then, they have appeared in the tournament 8 additional times. Fans across the state and country have come to watch the Cats play, and admire the traditions at Rupp. My personal favorite is the hype song they play before the starting countdown ends.
The arena is named after Coach Adolph Rupp, who coached the Wildcats for 42 straight years, and brought them to their first championship game win in 1948. In the span of the following 4 years, (1948 - 1951) Rupp lead his team to 3 of 4 winning titles, which included back to back wins in 1948 and 1949. He also won another in 1958. He one of three coaches to accomplish such a feat, and he was far beyond of anyone at that time. The arena has been built in his name, for such achievements. Since it's opening in 1976, the wildcats have an astonishing 90% win rate in their home arena.
The arena has since been renovated and changed numerous times since its launch in 1976. Starting in 2001, the Wildcats began utilizing a new lights-out introduction, featuring a video presentation and indoor fireworks. Most recently, the arena recieved renovations in 2014, with most notably, the addition of a new center hung video board, a new court design following the updated UK logo, and new basketball goals and shot clocks. It can now seat 20,545 persons, with its two seating levels. The locker room of the wildcats also recieve tremendous upgrades, including the 2012 gymnasium floor from their championship game. It also includes a kitchen, dining area, and even hot tubs! The floor can be removed as well which allows Rupp Arena to host much more venues aside from Wildcat Basketball.
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Logging Requirements:
Once you make it to GZ, please make sure you are facing the building and send me the answers (via the send message button on the app) to these questions:
1. On the right, you will see a tall structure that looks something like this:
What is the name of this piece and how many 'well lights' are in the ground underneath the structure?
2. On the left you will see a plaque near the base of the stairs:
What is hidden here and when was the grand opening of this thing?
3. Please include a picture of yourself, a thumbs up, or some sort of personal item in your log with the arena in the background to verify the legitamacy of your find.
***I deserve the right to delete any log after a week if the above requirements are not met!
Virtual Rewards 4.0 - 2024-2025
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between January 17, 2024 and January 17, 2025. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 4.0 on the Geocaching Blog.
Sources:
UK Athletics
Wikipedia
on3.com