I went on a field trip to Columbus once, too. June Bayless got drunk. He was our bus driver.

It's no secret that the Empire has yearned to have a world class facility for both the basketball and football programs. Commonwealth got a face lift this season to get it to almost look like SEC football is played there rather than Conference USA.

So, a bunch of folks from Lexington, with Mitch Barnart acting as chaperon, took a little trip to get some ideas and direction in the ongoing planning/asking for either a new arena or a massive overhaul of Rupp. They spent most of their time in the surrounding business district, rather than in Nationwide Arena.

And, if you want luxury boxes galore as part as any plan for arena changes, hold your horses.

If any program could fill luxury suites at their arena, it would be Kentucky. However, the developers of Nationwide are talking that down. That doesn't mean that a new arena won't be luxurious.

Luxury boxes would be part of a plan, just not as many. Instead, it was suggested to add ammenities, and to make it a more unique experience going to the arena. Make it a hands-on experience for the fan. And, the business district that has bloomed around the Arena in Columbus is probably what will sell the idea to Lexington officials, not the one where we pay proper homage to our blue-clad Ceasers.

This trip, after years of talks and issues with financial responsibility, was the first time that the BBN could really take hold of the concept that it could happen, and it is not just here-say and wishful thinking anymore.

Whatever the results are, Kentucky basketball is still going to be the selling point. Luxury boxes, indoor roller coasters, baseline saunas, or whatever else you could put in a stadium, are not going to make more people come watch the Cats. Half the charm to going to Rupp now is how Lexington currently is. It's got style and a charm all it's own, and there are a lot of firmly entrenched traditions that surround game days in Lexington that have to do with how things are now, not how they could be.

It just kind of chafes my ass that we went to Columbus to get ideas. It's basketball, not COSI.