🚨 Late Night will look a lot different this year
📝 Quick Links: Frank Mason game-winner, Stokes hype, and the Booth Stadium lights
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KU is making big changes for Late Night in the Phog. The Jayhawks announced Late Night will be part of an exhibition game vs. Pitt State this year.
In my view, the announcement is an evolution of Late Night, which frankly seemed needed. The game vs. another team should improve the experience for fans in attendance. More on that later.
First, the details:
🏀 Late Night: Friday, Oct. 16 vs. Pitt State.
The Jayhawks will host Late Night festivities as part of an exhibition game against Pitt State (coached by Jeff Boschee).
KU is playing three home exhibitions this year. Rather than a fourth preseason event, they’ve combined one of the exhibitions with Late Night.
I’m Hearing the Late Night staples will still be part of it, like full team intros, half-court shots, and the Dream On video.
The women get their own Late Night, too. Theirs will be vs. Washburn on Thursday, Oct. 29.
Louisville and Duke exhibitions are still happening. KU announced the Louisville game will be Wednesday, Oct. 21 at Allen Fieldhouse. Both Louisville and Late Night come with season tickets, and single-game tickets go on sale later.
I expect more details about Duke to come out soon, as everything gets finalized there.
VIP subscribers got a text about the Late Night changes before KU’s announcement today.
👋 How I See It:
This is Late Night evolving to meet some of the modern challenges we’ve seen in recent years.
The event used to mark the first day teams could practice, and it was your first chance to see the players. Neither has been the case in years. The value isn’t the same for the fan or the team.
With two massive exhibition games coming, tying Late Night celebrations to real game action makes a lot of sense to me.
KU had to do something, and I’m glad they were willing to rethink the tradition rather than let it slowly degrade.
If it goes well, Late Night will live on with a new format that should last.
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🏀 Frank Mason game winner! The KU alumni TBT team forced a winner-take-all Game 3 against the K-State alums. Game 3 is Friday night in Bramlage. Tickets.
🏀 Tyran Stokes made a preseason All-Big 12 First Team. Jon Rothstein put the incoming freshman on his early list.
🏈 The Booth lights are firing on both sides now. Watch this vid from KU Football showing the lights firing together.
