History

The heart of any thriving community is its downtown—and Central Bank Center and the historic Rupp Arena are truly the heart of downtown Lexington and one of the most widely-recognized entertainment venues in North America. The Central Bank Center and Rupp Arena serve as the backdrop to Lexington’s most vibrant urban gathering space.

Opening

Located minutes from Bluegrass Airport, the University of Kentucky campus, and Lexington’s iconic Thoroughbred horse farms, the Central Bank Center and Rupp Arena opened in 1976 and are home to the National Champion University of Kentucky men’s basketball program. The 19,000-seat arena, affectionately referred to by some as “the Cathedral of College Basketball” is named for the legendary Adolph Rupp, head coach from 1930 to 1972, and one of the all-time winningest coaches in men’s college basketball. Few experiences in all of sports can match that of experiencing a U.K. men’s home basketball game at Rupp Arena.

Providing Unique Experiences

Anchoring the West end of Lexington’s revitalized and lively downtown, the true soul of the Central Bank Center and Rupp Arena experience is found inside. The Central Bank Center’s never-ending mission is to provide its own uniquely inviting patron experience. The friendly staff, professional management team, excellent sight lines from all seat locations, plenty of on-site parking and convenient access come together to provide our guests with the ultimate fan experience. The Central Bank Center continuously measures itself against the world’s best. That’s the difference between a satisfactory experience and a sensational experience.

Each year, hundreds of thousands visitors from around the world and local and state residents flock to the Central Bank Center and Rupp Arena to gather together with friends and family to socialize, to attend high profile concerts, shows and community and sporting events and to enjoy an entertainment experience that is unmatched.