Kentucky Football's pregame experience ranked 12th in SEC

The gameday atmosphere at Kroger Field has come a long way in the Mark Stoops era; that said, it still has a long way to go, according to one outlet. Bookies.com ranked SEC schools by their pregame experiences. Kentucky is No. 12, ahead of only Arkansas and Vanderbilt. Before I share the list, here are a few factors in the algorithm:

• Location: Close to the action, accessible to fans
• Tailgating: The ability to park and enjoy a crisp fall day with a beverage and grill
• Entertainment Around Stadium: A vibrant bar and restaurant scene within walking distance to your seat
• Family Sentiment: Is the area safe and entertaining for kids and those with kids?

Best SEC Pregame Experiences

1. Georgia
2. Texas A&M
3. Alabama
4. LSU
5. Tennessee
6. Ole Miss
7. Auburn
8. South Carolina
9. Florida
10. Missouri
11. Mississippi State
12. Kentucky
13. Arkansas
14. Vanderbilt

As you can see, Kentucky’s highest marks were for the tailgating setup. Unlike most SEC stadiums, there are plenty of parking lots adjacent to Kroger Field. In the other areas, the Cats did not fare well, even getting a 1 for “family sentiment,” defined as safe and entertaining for kids and those with kids. So, the least family-friendly atmosphere in the league.

“The football program has made huge strides lately and the fans are coming out to see the games now in this large college town known more for hoops,” Bookies.com’s Adam Thompson writes. “When it comes to traditions, there isn’t much here to get you in the mood. There is no good central location by Kroger Field to get your drink and food near the stadium, either. Adjacent parking lots are plentiful for tailgating, however.”

I think Kroger Field’s location is pretty good, but I wouldn’t blame the panel for docking points for Nicholasville Road traffic. It is true there aren’t a ton of bars and restaurants within walking distance of the stadium. Maybe for next year’s rankings, Bookies.com will consider the KSBar pregame shuttle?

Alcohol sales approved at Bryant-Denny Stadium

This ranking pertains to pregame atmospheres only, but it’s also worth mentioning that the list of SEC schools prohibiting stadium-wide alcohol sales got just got shorter. Last night, the Tuscaloosa City Council approved a liquor license for Alabama’s concessionaire, paving the way for beer and wine sales at Bryant-Denny Stadium this fall. That leaves Kentucky, Auburn, and Georgia as the only SEC schools that do not offer alcohol sales to the general public at football games.

On Saturday, Adam Luckett asked Mitch Barnhart if Kentucky’s alcohol policy will change anytime soon; the answer was a clear no.

“We’ve got a great atmosphere where we are,” said Barnhart. “That’s a short conversation today. I knew that somewhere along the way we’d get to it on my other 94 notes here. We’re where we are. We’re sort of in the same situation we’ve been in. We’ve got a great atmosphere. We sold 43-44,000 season tickets, we’ve got some visitors that will be coming in, we’ve got an 8-game home schedule and feel pretty comfortable with what we got going on.”

Barnhart also put his foot down when it comes to John Calipari’s request for a new basketball practice facility. Texas A&M grossed $2.4 million in its first season of stadium-wide beer sales. Stadium-wide alcohol sales would raise a whole lot of money for a lot of facilities on campus. Just saying.