John Calipari would not go so far as to indicate the future of Kentucky’s annual ‘home’ game in Louisville has been determined but it is clear the event could be on the chopping block if attendance doesn’t improve.

Kentucky hosts Arkansas-Little Rock in Freedom Hall on Tuesday night, the home away from home game the program stages in Louisville as part of its desire to reach out to alumni in the area. Tickets still remain, a trend that has caused concern in UK’s athletics department and spurred Calipari to note that if fans want the game to remain as is then they need to show it by turning out for it.

“People got to come to it and make it something they want us to do,” Calipari said.

Attendance has seen a major decline in recent years, as only the showdown with Notre Dame last season drew a crowd within 3,000 seats of capacity in the 18,865-seat venue. That game, which was part of a SEC/Big East Invitational doubleheader, drew 17,404 fans. The only other game to bring out more than 14,500 fans over the past seven UK ‘home’ games in Freedom Hall was a 2009-10 win over UNC-Asheville (15,368). The 2005-06 Indiana game drew 20,084 but was technically a neutral site game with split ticket distribution between the two schools.

The average attendance for the aforementioned seven games Kentucky has hosted at Freedom Hall is just 13,450. Kentucky is averaging 23,317 fans at Rupp Arena this season. Calipari also dismissed the notion the opponent should have anything to do with the attendance.

“It's hard to say 'get us UCLA in there.' Come on, you can't,” Calipari said. “I know this: Little Rock at home, there will be 24,000 people there -- here in Lexington.

“Yeah we want to continue to do it, we want to reach out to our fans and get everybody an opportunity. This is an opportunity for people that are not season ticket holders. Can't get to a game? Here's a game. Let’s go. Get in there to see them. I think the great thing about our fans is they come to see us play. They're not just there to see the other team. They're there to see us play.”

ATTENDANCE OF LAST SEVEN ‘HOME’ GAMES IN FREEDOM HALL:
2010-11: vs. Notre Dame; 17,404
2009-10: vs. UNC Asheville; 15,368
2008-09: vs. Appalachian State; 10,173
2007-08: vs. UAB; 14,241
2006-07: vs. Chattanooga; 11,641
2005-06: vs. Iona; 13,794
2003-04: vs. Austin Peay; 11,526

Average Attendance: 13,450