Solid Blue fans camp out early for Big Blue Madness tickets

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – It’s a big week for Solid Blue fans. Big Blue Madness tickets are being released on Friday.

The tickets are free and are given on a first-come, first-served basis. It’s for that reason that fans camp out to try to get the best spot in line.

University of Kentucky campus safety officials have asked that no one begin camping until Wednesday at 5 a.m., but that hasn’t stopped more than 85 die-hard Solid Blue fans from coming out early.

They can’t set up tents yet, but have set up lawn chairs, lining Avenue of Champions, across from Memorial Coliseum.

Fans camping out have been taking turns watching each others’ stuff so they can use the restroom and get food, but some say when they get to move across the street to set up ‘Tent City’ on Wednesday, everyone is on their own.

However, that’s not the case for Anthony Eakles and his family.

Eakles says he doesn’t want to get the first spot. Rather, he wants his friend Irvin “Pig” Brown to have it.

Eakles says he met Brown one year right after he was trampled while trying to cross the street to set up his tent.

Last year, Eakles helped Brown across.

Brown said last year was the best year he had ever had, but Eakles is determined to top it by getting Brown the first spot in line.

Those in line will get control cards at 2 p.m. Friday, which they will need in order to get the tickets Friday at 10 p.m. when the box office opens.