The stories and accounts of Kentucky basketball’s players, iconic coaches, and epic games have been told and retold, but lesser known are the stories of the arenas and venues that have been home to the Wildcats—buildings that have witnessed the sights, sounds, and shared spirit of the Big Blue Nation for over a century.
In House of Champions: The Story of Kentucky Basketball’s Home Courts, author Kevin Cook combines archival research and numerous interviews with players and coaches to reveal the rich history and colorful details of the structures that have hosted University of Kentucky basketball. A number of fascinating backstories are uncovered, including the excitement of Alumni Gym’s opening night in 1925, the problematic acquisition of Black community land for the building of Memorial Coliseum, and the painstaking inscription of nearly ten thousand names of Kentucky’s World War II and Korean War heroes to be displayed along the Coliseum’s pedestrian ramps. The account concludes with a compelling overview of the development of historic Rupp Arena: its inner workings, the prominent figures involved, and how the initial conversation to build it began over a slice of Jerry’s pie in 1968.
This insightful and entertaining history reveals how the impact of sporting facilities extends far beyond game night as they continue to shape and influence the social, economic, and political landscapes of Lexington and central Kentucky.
Tabla de materias
Introduction
Part 1: Alumni Hall
1. Chapter 1: Basketball Comes to Kentucky: The Gymnasium and Buell Armory
Part 2: Alumni Gymnasium
2. Chapter 2: A Building for Basketball
3. Chapter 3: The Alumni Gym Era Begins
4. Chapter 4: Filling the Gym with Spirit
5. Chapter 5: The Basketball Saviors
6. Chapter 6: Launching a Basketball Dynasty
7. Chapter 7: Crowds and Smoking Out of Control
8. Chapter 8: Reaching New Heights at Alumni Gym
9. Chapter 9: A Fabulous Five
10. Chapter 10: Practicing for Perfection: Making the Team in Alumni Gym
11. Chapter 11: The Toughest Ticket in College Basketball
12. Chapter 12: A Seat for Everyone
Part 3: Memorial Coliseum
13. Chapter 13: Adamstown
14. Chapter 14: Fighting for a Fieldhouse
15. Chapter 15: A Monument for All Kentucky
16. Chapter 16: Public Feats, Private Failures
17. Chapter 17: Battling in Memorial for an SEC Title
18. Chapter 18: Great Hopes and Great Disappointments
19. Chapter 19: An Uneasy Changing of the Guard
Part 4: Rupp Arena
20. Chapter 20: An Arena to Honor Rupp
21. Chapter 21: The Pieces Come Together
22. Chapter 22: Closing the Curtain on Memorial Coliseum
23. Chapter 23: Launching Rupp Arena
Sobre el autor
Kevin Cook has degrees in engineering and American history. His published works include a comprehensive study of the Rochester Royals’ NBA franchise in Rochester History, articles in the Jessamine Journal and German Life, and a self-published travel memoir titled Where Am I, Rick Steves? A Misguided Tour of Europe’s Back Doors. He has worked as a naval officer, a high school teacher, and a corporate sales representative.
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