- Basketbowl
The Basketbowl, between
Michigan State University and theUniversity of Kentucky was the most attendedbasketball game in history. It occurred onDecember 13 ,2003 atFord Field inDetroit, Michigan setting an attendance record of 78,129. Kentucky won the game 79-74. The NCAA was impressed with the massive size of the crowd that they decided in 2008 to expand the seating capacity for the Men's Division I Basketball Championship to a minimum of 70,000 starting with the 2009 Final Four, which would be held in that stadium.The Teams
Both schools entered into the contest with significant on-court accomplishments. Combined, both school have nine national championships (2 for Michigan State, 7 for Kentucky), and 18
Final Four appearances (5 for Michigan State, 13 for Kentucky). Michigan State and Kentucky had met 20 times previously with Kentucky holding a 11-9 advantage. MSU had defeated Kentucky 71-67 the previous year atRupp Arena .The Court
The basketball court for the game was moved from Michigan State's
Breslin Center and reassembled on the 50 yard line of Ford Field, giving the promotional title "Basketbowl: Hoops on the 50!" In addition, the entire court was raised off the field by a custom stage deck installed by SGA Production Staging, Inc. to improve sight lines for those sitting in the upper bowl of the stadium.The Crowd
Michigan State and Kentucky share one of the most respectful rivalries in
college basketball and before the game many fans from the two schoolstailgate d together in the surrounding Downtown Detroit area. In fact, they faced each other in the 1999 and 2005 NCAA Tournament Regional Finals (Michigan State won both). Both schools brought sizable fan bases, a student section, and theirmarching band s. Normally, a smaller "pep band" would perform at a game in smaller arenas and the NCAA Tournament.Previous Record
The previous record of 75,000 was held by the
Harlem Globetrotters during their exhibition game atBerlin, Germany 's Olympic Stadium."BasketBowl II"
It was announced on
April 15 th, 2008 that Ford Field will host "BasketBowl II" between the Spartans and North Carolina as part of theACC-Big Ten Challenge onDecember 3 rd of that year. That game will be televised onESPN . [http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/msu/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/QuickFacts.pdf Source]
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