The Tribune

POLICE are investigating the theft of 300 tickets to the University of Kentucky Wildcats basketball games in Nassau this week. Fans are warned to be vigilant if they want to buy tickets to the game because those with the stolen tickets will not be allowed to attend.

The University of Kentucky sent out a press release late on Friday noting that 300 tickets from a booklet had been stolen on arrival in the Bahamas. The tickets are a package allowing entry to all of the Kentucky’s six exhibition games at the 2,500-seat Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

The team, eight times the NCAA champions and runners-up this year, is in New Providence for 10 days as part of its off-season trip. Under the NCAA rules, schools are allowed to take a foreign trip once every four years so the tours are popular.

The lost tickets – serial numbers 1201 to 1500 – will no longer be recognised for admission and the University of Kentucky fans who have based a summer vacation around the Big Blue Bahamas tour and are hoping to watch the matches have been advised not buy them from possible scalpers. General admission tickets to a game cost $5.

“Fans are encouraged to be vigilant in purchasing tickets in the Bahamas,” University of Kentucky’s statement on the matter said. “Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium personnel have been informed of the stolen tickets and will not allow entry to anyone attempting to use tickets flagged as stolen. Fans who have already purchased tickets for the Big Blue Bahamas tour will not be affected.”

The University said it had ordered more tickets than were pre-purchased. Kentucky is playing two matches each against the Puerto Rico national team reserves, the Champagne Chalons-Reims team from France and the Dominican Republic national team.

The first game was yesterday and the tour ends next Sunday.

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