Freedom Hall is a multipurpose arena in Louisville, Kentucky on the grounds of the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, which is owned by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The maximum capacity of the arena is 19,169 for concerts, while seating 18,865 for basketball. While it is used to host a variety of events, it is most famous for its use as a basketball arena. It is the basketball home of the University of Louisville Cardinals. The Cardinals started playing basketball there in December 1956 with a contest against the University of Notre Dame. Their first full season in the facility was the following season. In addition to being the home of the Cardinals, Freedom Hall has hosted NCAA Tournament games ten times, including six Final Fours. The arena has also hosted 11 conference tournaments, nine Metro Conference Tournaments and two Conference USA tournaments. It has also hosted the Kentucky 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 to increase the capacity of the arena to its current figure. The record basketball attendance for the arena is 20,086, set when Louisville defeated Indiana University on February 1, 2003.

Another famous event that occurs at Freedom Hall is the Kentucky State Fair Horse Show, which many consider to be the world championship of show horses. In fact Freedom Hall was designed for this event.

NCAA Tournament games played in Freedom Hall

• 1958 Final Four
• 1959 Final Four
• 1962 Final Four
• 1963 Final Four
• 1967 Final Four
• 1969 Final Four
• 1976 Midwest Regional
• 1983 Midwest Regional
• 1987 Southeast Regional
• 1991 First/Second Rounds

Conference Tournaments played in Freedom Hall

• Metro Conference—1980, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1992, 1995
• Conference USA—2001, 2003

External links

• University of Louisville athletics’ website on Freedom Hall
• Official site of Freedom Hall