An annual celebration of KU’s basketball teams returns Friday, and though in-person tickets have already been claimed, some parts of the event will be livestreamed.
Late Night in the Phog packs Allen Fieldhouse with students and Jayhawk basketball fans for a massive pep rally to start each season.
Both basketball teams will hold scrimmages. Two fans will have a chance to win $10,000 from men’s basketball coach Bill Self by making half-court shots.
The event will include routines from KU’s spirit squad and dance teams, KU Pep Band and DJ Heat, and much more. Flo Rida, a rapper, singer and songwriter, is this year’s featured performer — however, “Unfortunately, due to copyright music and artist contracts, only the scrimmages will be broadcast,” according to a release from KU Athletics Wednesday morning.
The KU women’s team in April won the Women’s National Invitation Tournament championship. Their scrimmage will begin around 7:20 p.m. The men’s scrimmage will start around 8:20 p.m.
The scrimmages will be livestreamed on ESPN+, KUAthletics.com and Facebook Watch through the KU Athletics Facebook page, facebook.com/KUAthletics, according to the release.
This year’s festivities will commence at 2:30 p.m. Friday (Oct. 6) with the Phog Fest on the front lawn of Allen Fieldhouse, 1651 Naismith Drive. The event is open to all fans and will include a Hawk Zone with inflatable games, music, food trucks, giveaways and more, according to the release.
Fans are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items to be collected and donated to Just Food, the Douglas County food bank.
Here’s parking info from the release: “Free parking will be available in Lot 90, east and south of Allen Fieldhouse across Naismith Drive, beginning at 2 p.m. Fans may also park in the parking garage just north of Allen Fieldhouse with hourly rates until 4 p.m., at which time garage parking will be $5 per car. Lower levels of the parking garage will be reserved. All other normal campus parking rules apply.”
This year’s 39th edition of Late Night is free to attend in person, but all tickets have been allocated, according to the release. For those going in person, KU’s clear-bag policy is in effect. More info about where to go at Allen Fieldhouse is available at kuathletics.com/late-night.
The KU men’s team will have exhibition games at Illinois on Sunday, Oct. 29, and against Fort Hays State on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at Allen Fieldhouse. On Monday, Nov. 6, they’ll face North Carolina Central in Lawrence. The women’s team will face Northwestern State on Wednesday, Nov. 8 in Lawrence, then Penn State in University Park, Pennsylvania, on Monday, Nov. 13.
See the full season schedules below (updated through Sept. 26; click here to open in a new tab):
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