*** OFFICIAL Lexington Roll Call!!! ***

laa1025

BN8419 said:

Thought I'd leave my two cents on some of the topics, as I am a lifelong Kentuckian, love the horses, love bourbon, and have a bit of professional knowledge when it comes to arenas.

First, my absolute first thought when this show was announced was to check and see about going to Keeneland the next day. It is one of my favorite places anywhere. Keeneland, Saratoga, Del Mar, Santa Anita - in this order - are the best places to go to experience the best of throughbred racing anywhere in the country. Churchill Downs, Belmont, and other more generally recognized tracks are way down the list. I will be at Keeneland on that Wednesday. It is the best thing to do in Lexington by far.

My recommendation for Wednesday is to go to the Woodford Reserve distillery, which is about a 15 minute drive from Keeneland the opposit direction of Lexington. Go there in the morning, get a taste of bourbon and the bourbon experience, and then make it to Keeneland by about noon. First race is always at 1:05. Usually 9 or 10 races on a Wednesday, last race about 5:00 or 5:30.

And regarding Rupp Arena - it is a fairly old venue connected to a hotel and convention center. It has a higher seating capacity, but is generally smaller than most NBA arenas, but comparable. The upper deck is very steep, and a lot of bleacher seating, but not all. It is referred to some times as "cavernous", lots of air volume in that place. The largest arena in the country is the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, which still qualifies as an arena, although it harkens back to the old "dome" type venues that are gone for the most part now. A Rupp show feels pretty much just like your typical arena show, the actual space inside isn't that much different from most of the arenas they will play.

There are no luxury boxes and there isn't going to much in the way of bars. Typically, there is no alcohol during the basketball games there, it will just be long lines at beer tables everywhere you go. There also isn't much of a night life around that area, although there are a few limited spots within the downtown walking area. The Univ of Ky campus is a 5-10 minute drive, and will be more active. I'm staying at the new 21C hotel downtown, which I think may not even be open yet, but will be by showtime.

As for how Rupp sounds, I've been to 4 or 5 concerts there, and it's pretty typical. Best sounding show I saw there was U2, the worst sounding show was RHCP/Foo, which was fucking horrible. The Pearl Jam show in 2003 was somewhere in the middle sound quality wise.

Great info! I've never done a horseracing event. Is it easy to do without looking like complete fool? Sounds like fun. If you go at noon, can you just watch a few and leave or would that not be worth it? Thank you.

know1

laa1025 said:

Great info! I've never done a horseracing event. Is it easy to do without looking like complete fool? Sounds like fun. If you go at noon, can you just watch a few and leave or would that not be worth it? Thank you.

It's cheap enough to go, watch a few races and then leave. Admission is something like $10.

I doubt you'll want to leave, though, unless you just don't enjoy good people watching in a beautiful setting.

The confusing and intimidating thing about it is the betting. You don't have to bet at all, and many people do not, but try to learn a little bit about the basics of betting on horse races and that will help. I'm not advocating spending a bunch of money, but it''s amazing how much your interest level raises if you place a $2 bet on a race.

CosmoCramer

Should I or Should I not wear my Indiana University gear?

derbydave

CosmoCramer said:

Should I or Should I not wear my Indiana University gear?

The sting from their beat down should have faded by that point!!

know1

BN8419 said:

Thought I'd leave my two cents on some of the topics, as I am a lifelong Kentuckian, love the horses, love bourbon, and have a bit of professional knowledge when it comes to arenas.

First, my absolute first thought when this show was announced was to check and see about going to Keeneland the next day. It is one of my favorite places anywhere. Keeneland, Saratoga, Del Mar, Santa Anita - in this order - are the best places to go to experience the best of throughbred racing anywhere in the country. Churchill Downs, Belmont, and other more generally recognized tracks are way down the list. I will be at Keeneland on that Wednesday. It is the best thing to do in Lexington by far.

My recommendation for Wednesday is to go to the Woodford Reserve distillery, which is about a 15 minute drive from Keeneland the opposit direction of Lexington. Go there in the morning, get a taste of bourbon and the bourbon experience, and then make it to Keeneland by about noon. First race is always at 1:05. Usually 9 or 10 races on a Wednesday, last race about 5:00 or 5:30.

And regarding Rupp Arena - it is a fairly old venue connected to a hotel and convention center. It has a higher seating capacity, but is generally smaller than most NBA arenas, but comparable. The upper deck is very steep, and a lot of bleacher seating, but not all. It is referred to some times as "cavernous", lots of air volume in that place. The largest arena in the country is the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, which still qualifies as an arena, although it harkens back to the old "dome" type venues that are gone for the most part now. A Rupp show feels pretty much just like your typical arena show, the actual space inside isn't that much different from most of the arenas they will play.

There are no luxury boxes and there isn't going to much in the way of bars. Typically, there is no alcohol during the basketball games there, it will just be long lines at beer tables everywhere you go. There also isn't much of a night life around that area, although there are a few limited spots within the downtown walking area. The Univ of Ky campus is a 5-10 minute drive, and will be more active. I'm staying at the new 21C hotel downtown, which I think may not even be open yet, but will be by showtime.

As for how Rupp sounds, I've been to 4 or 5 concerts there, and it's pretty typical. Best sounding show I saw there was U2, the worst sounding show was RHCP/Foo, which was fucking horrible. The Pearl Jam show in 2003 was somewhere in the middle sound quality wise.

Much of this is spot on. I do think that there is a bit more nightlife around the arena than a few years ago, but because it's a Tuesday night, there will not be bunches of people out (and out late) other than those going to the concert.

The upper arena of Rupp is really steep and is almost all bench seats as mentioned. I actually can't think of any that aren't benches. I think it was built for a time when people were thinner because it seems like each row holds about 3 more people than it should. It's tough to get to your seat and get out of it. Pearl Jam is probably the only act that I would put up with sitting up there. It's just not the greatest experience.

There have been some renovations in concessions, but the poster is correct that beer isn't sold at the basketball games and so they don't have the greatest infrastructure for it. I think it's gotten better, though.

I work in Lexington and live just outside. I go to a few of the basketball games every year. I haven't been back for an actual concert since maybe Pearl Jam in 2003. I can't think of another one that I've been to, but I might be mistaken.

joe159

CAN NOT WAIT!!!! Gonna be an amazing trip!!

CosmoCramer

derbydave said:

CosmoCramer said:

Should I or Should I not wear my Indiana University gear?

The sting from their beat down should have faded by that point!!

I wouldnt say it was a beat down, great game, have to respect the UK program.

derbydave

CosmoCramer said:

derbydave said:

CosmoCramer said:

Should I or Should I not wear my Indiana University gear?

The sting from their beat down should have faded by that point!!

I wouldnt say it was a beat down, great game, have to respect the UK program.

Being a U of L fan...
This has been a TOUGH year!!!!

CosmoCramer

Was U of L not allowed in the tourney this year? I cant remember.

derbydave

CosmoCramer said:

Was U of L not allowed in the tourney this year? I cant remember.

Took themselves out of the tourney!!
#HookersAndBlow

loadedgun

CosmoCramer said:

Was U of L not allowed in the tourney this year? I cant remember.

They were, but their hands were full trying to attempt new recruits. All of the planning, coordinating, and dancing that goes along with that.

CosmoCramer

derbydave said:

CosmoCramer said:

Was U of L not allowed in the tourney this year? I cant remember.

Took themselves out of the tourney!!
#HookersAndBlow

At least they have a good excuse.

FoxyRedLa

Wow almost at the 30 day mark. Gotta get goin. Gotta get the truck checked over and I'm hmm there was something else. Hmm


Yeah!!!!

pjalive21

35 Days! Just over 2 weeks till first show

jjflash

pjalive21 said:

35 Days! Just over 2 weeks till first show

Five weeks and counting....woohoo!!!

CosmoCramer

Should be hearing something soon about tickets and when and where to pick up.

derbydave

CosmoCramer said:

Should be hearing something soon about tickets and when and where to pick up.

Starting to get stoked for these shows
I'm thinking we should get our final confirmation e-mails around April 1st!!
In 2014, we got the email with ticket pick-up info for the fall tour dates on Friday, September 26th...
5 days before the first show in Cincinnati on Wednesday, October 1st!!
I got all 5 confirmations for the tickets I won on the same day.

pjalive21

Waiting...watching the clock
32 Days...we can almost say 1 month!!!
2 weeks till first show

laa1025

Officially less than one month! Can't wait. I also can't wait for the tour to start so my evenings can become even less productive as I sit and watch setlists and/or periscope.

pjalive21

4 weeks or just 28 days!!! Section 218 is now officially sold out...I see tickets to this show selling more and more as the days pass....getting excited for this show