History
Freedom Hall was completed in 1956 in the newly opened Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center located 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Downtown Louisville. Designed for the nation's premier equestrian competition, the Kentucky State Fair World's Championship Horse Show, the floor length and permanent seating were designed specifically for the almost 300-foot (91 m)-long show ring (in comparison, a regulation hockey rink is 200 feet (61 m) long, and a basketball court is only 94 feet). The North American International Livestock Exposition also is held there each November.
In 1984 the facility was refurbished, including lowering the floor to allow maximum capacity to increase from 16,664 to 18,865 for basketball. It has been the full time home of Cardinal men's basketball since the 1957/58 season, with the team winning 82% of home games in 50 seasons. U of L has ranked in the Top 5 in attendance for the past 25 years, with 16 of the past 19 years averaging more than 100% of capacity.
In addition to being the home of the Cardinals, Freedom Hall has hosted NCAA Tournament games ten times, including six Final Fours between 1958 and 1969. The arena has also hosted 11 conference tournaments, nine Metro Conference Tournaments and two Conference USA tournaments—2001 and 2003. It has also hosted the Kentucky Boys' High School State Basketball Tournament (also known as the Sweet 16) 23 times, including every year from 1965-1978. In 1984, the floor of the arena was lowered about 10 feet (3.0 m) to increase the capacity of the arena from 16,613 to its current figure. In the 1996-97 season Freedom Hall averaged an attendance of 19,590 surpassing arena capacity. Freedom Hall hosts the Championship tractor pull every February during the National Farm Machinery Show.
In November 2008 the Louisville Fire of af2 ceased operations. The Louisville Fire was an Arena Football team who played in Freedom Hall.
On the lower level is the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame" where an engraved bronze plaque honors each inductee.
The University of Louisville men's basketball team played their final game at Freedom Hall on March 6, 2010 against Syracuse University, the #1 ranked team in the nation; Louisville won 78-68.
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Freedom Hall at a distance
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2008
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2008
| UofL Men's Basketball Attendance by Year | |||
| Year | Average Attendance | Games | Percent of capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997/98 | 18,669 | 14 | 98.96% |
| 1998/99 | 19,055 | 14 | 101.0% |
| 1999/00 | 19,180 | 15 | 101.2% |
| 2000/01 | 17,457 | 16 | 92.53% |
| 2001/02 | 18,929 | 19 | 100.3% |
| 2002/03 | 19,037 | 18 | 101.0% |
| 2003/04 | 19,443 | 15 | 103.1% |
| 2004/05 | 18,746 | 17 | 99.36% |
| 2005/06 | 18,316 | 22 | 97.09% |
| 2006/07 | 18,488 | 20 | 98% |
| 2007/08 | 19,481 | 17 | 103.3% |
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