LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – The novelty of Louisville basketball’s signature preseason event, Louisville Live, was its location. The program took its show on the (nearby) road, to Fourth Street Live, to Churchill Downs, to Louisville Slugger Field.
The setting was the spectacle. A basketball court constructed in the street, or near the paddock, or along the third-base line. It was designed as a feast for the eyes, a camera-ready show for the senses, with a little basketball, some glitzy player and coach introductions, a few goodies for the crowd, some slam dunking and three-point shooting.
Last year, the event went away. Kenny Payne didn’t seem to have much interest in continuing it after a 4-28 opening season. Or maybe there wasn’t much public clamoring. As well, in the age of NIL, these big events aren’t as important as they used to be. Better to use your dollars for player acquisition, or bank them for further player needs.
Many places have scaled them back. Indiana revamped its Hoosier Hysteria. Kentucky is an exception. Big Blue Madness is still big, and blue, and mad.
A crowd of Louisville fans crams into Churchill Downs for Louisville Live 2021.
Louisville will reprise its preseason event in the KFC Yum! Center, which saves a bit on production costs. No need to construct a custom basketball court or lighting. And this added bonus – you can charge for admission, which the school is -- $15 per person, all seats general admission, students get in free.
It will be the first time in the event's five seasons that it will be held indoors.
With Louisville shelving its annual red-white scrimmage, this is the only chance for fans to see the men's team before its exhibition opener against Young Harris University on Oct. 21. Louisville's women will open against UCLA in Paris, France, on Nov. 4. They will not play an exhibition.
“Obviously we’re very excited about the event,” Louisville coach Pat Kelsey said. “It creates a great buzz in the city. A ton of people are talking about it, our players are talking about it. It’s one of the few times we go to the arena with a packed crowd where a win and a loss aren’t on the line.”
The event tips off at 8 p.m. Friday night, with doors opening at 7. But before that, there will be sponsored events in the Pepsi Plaza in front of the arena, and a “Rally in Whiskey Alley” will be held at 5 p.m. with the block of Washington Street between 1st and 2nd Streets to be closed. That event will feature a DJ.
Darius Perry attempts a dunk in a Donovan Mitchell jersey during the 2018 Louisville Live event at Fourth Street Live.
Organizers say the arena set-up will differ from regular-season basketball events.
Inside the arena, the program will feature the usual player intros for men and women, intrasquad 3-on-3 games, three-point shooting contest and dunk contest.
Hosts include Bruce Dougherty, a former in-venue host for Louisville basketball, and Ari Waller, in-venue host for the Los Angeles Sparks and the 2024 Kentucky Derby.
With players now allowed to work out with coaches for limited hours during the summer, the start of practice doesn’t carry the same mystique it did when these kinds of “madness” events began, and teams rolled out the balls for public practices at one minute after midnight when practice began on Oct. 15.
But in the case of Louisville Live, it still provides fans a chance to get a bit of a preview of their teams, and to get back into the arena for an introductory event.
“Back in the day . . . when it was October 15 and the clock struck midnight, that was a magical moment, because you didn't have all these hours in the offseason where you had four hours on the floor with your guys,” Kelsey said. “. . . College basketball has gotten away from that a little bit. And I like the way it is now, but you have lost that magic a little bit. . . . But I remember when I played at Xavier . . . we had that, man the doors open, you run out, and it felt really, really cool.”
Maria Taylor and Angel McCoughtry at Louisville Live in Churchill Downs.
Louisville women’s coach Jeff Walz sent his players home for fall break, but the team will be back in time for this event.
“So our kids are really looking forward to being a part of this on Friday night with our men's team,” Walz said. “It's our whole athletic department at this point in time. It's really neat to see just the camaraderie and the support that we have for each other. You've got Dani (Busboom Kelly), who's just absolutely kicking butt there with our volleyball program. Our volleyball players are amazing. You see them on campus, at the different venues, and they're all so kind. They're so nice. And that's a group who's, you know, one of the best volleyball programs in the country, but the way they act, you'd have no idea, and that's what I appreciate. They're humble, but they're really good, and that's what we've seen throughout this entire athletic department. So, we're thrilled to be able to join our men's program on Friday night.”
Tickets for the event remain available. For more information go to GoCards.com.
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