Louisville C-J: Freedom Hall --- So long, old friend

[LutherRackleyRulez]

Per Louisville Courier-Journal.....




Louisville C-J recently did a 12 page section commemorating the storied history of Freedom Hall...



'When the lights came on ...
you knew you were in a special place'

The University of Louisville basketball team is leaving Freedom Hall after 54 seasons.
Next season the Cardinals will settle into a new 22,000-seat arena on the downtown riverfront.







http://www.courier-journal.com/section/sports0202&template=fullpage

[GoMuskies]

I loved that place. Grew up going to games there, and got to see the Cards knock off the Cats there twice (I was 2-0). I don't think I have been back there since I got to see the Cards pound a North Carolina team that ended up in the Final Four back in 1999 or 2000. Brendan Haywood got absolutely owned that day.

It will be sad to see the old place go. The new place will obviously be nicer, but it will never be Freedom Hall.

[XUglow]

Thanks for the link. I sold UofL 10,000 comemorative lighted rally towels for the last game. Here is a sneak peak.

http://www.extremeglow.com/card030610.jpg

[GoMuskies]

Fitting that the last game is against the #1 team in the country, too.

[SixFig]

Maybe Pitino can have farewell sex in the trainers room.

[Masterofreality]

My first visit to Freedom Hall was as a kid in 1958 to a high school doubleheader with St. X in one game and Flaget in the other.

Seen high school, college and Kentucky Colonels games there along with one bad-ass Janis Joplin concert there in 1970 with her Full Tilt Boogie band. She died the fall of that year. Can never forget her on stage swilling Southern Comfort and wailing the blues. Sounded great in that old barn.

I agree. Just like with Crosley Field and Cleveland Stadium-

-Good bye, old friend.

[bobbiemcgee]

kyle kuric avg 3 has 20 in 2nd half

[GoMuskies]

It all ended with sort of a half-assed court rushing.

[bobbiemcgee]

My first visit to Freedom Hall was as a kid in 1958 to a high school doubleheader with St. X in one game and Flaget in the other.

Seen high school, college and Kentucky Colonels games there along with one bad-ass Janis Joplin concert there in 1970 with her Full Tilt Boogie band. She died the fall of that year. Can never forget her on stage swilling Southern Comfort and wailing the blues. Sounded great in that old barn.

I agree. Just like with Crosley Field and Cleveland Stadium-

-Good bye, old friend.

Crosley Field? I went their on a Little League train in the 50's every year from Naptown. Big Klu!!

[LutherRackleyRulez]

Per ESPN.com.....


Louisville rocks No. 1 Syracuse in Freedom Hall finale;
Kuric scores 22 after half

Louisville gave Freedom Hall a memorable send-off.

Kyle Kuric scored all of his career-high 22 points in the second half and the Cardinals upset No. 1 Syracuse 78-68 on Saturday, providing one last highlight at their 54-year-old home.

Louisville (20-11, 11-7 Big East) may also have assured itself a return trip to the NCAA tournament by sweeping the season series from the Orange (28-3, 15-3). Their only other loss all season came against Pittsburgh, and Saturday was their first road loss.

Although Syracuse led by eight points late in the first half, Kuric was a one-man wrecking crew in the second. He made 9 of 11 shots -- including four 3-pointers -- to make for a happy ending at Freedom Hall, before Louisville moves to a new downtown arena in the fall.






http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=300650097