Kentucky Basketball season ticket holders win case over Rupp Arena re-seating process

The University of Kentucky and the Lexington Center are about to renovate the best seats in Rupp Arena, prompting Kentucky Basketball season ticket holders in those prime courtside and lower-level seats to give up their spots and choose new ones based on where they stand on the K-Fund priority list. After taking the University of Kentucky to court, two season ticket holders’ seats are safe.

According to the Herald-Leader, Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd ruled in favor of John Meyers and Kathy Walker, who sued UK after being told they would have to choose new seats because the aging infrastructure of the risers underneath theirs needed to be rebuilt, which would change the seating configuration. In total, the renovations will impact around 178 season ticket holders with 536 seats. The ticket holders were given the option to pick new seats, but the order would be based on how much they give to the K-Fund, with a deadline of March 29 (today) to donate more to climb the list.

Like many season ticket holders, Meyers and Walker both have lifetime tickets in exchange for lifetime donations to the school. Shepherd ruled that UK can proceed with the renovations, but cannot give away Meyers’ or Walker’s seats.

“We’re delighted with the ruling,” said Joe Childers, attorney for Meyers and Walker. “This does not prevent the university and Lexington Center from going forward with planned renovations for safety reasons. The only thing the judge has done is taken these six tickets out the mix and said these are reserved for John Meyers and Kathy Walker.”

What does it mean for the other season ticket holders impacted by the renovations? A UK spokeswoman said the school is reviewing the decision and “considering the options,” but I have a feeling Meyers and Walker just provided some pretty useful precedent.