Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey

John Cropp Stadium
570 Wildcat Court
Lexington, KY 40506

On a campus where basketball reigns supreme and the reach of “Big Blue Nation” touches nearly every corner of athletics, softball has still carved out a loyal following of its own at the University of Kentucky. The Wildcats first took the field in 1997 under founding head coach John Cropp, who built the program from the ground up and guided it through the 2018 season. During his tenure Kentucky developed into a consistent NCAA Tournament contender in the SEC, making multiple NCAA Regional and Super Regional appearances, while also reaching the Women’s College World Series for the first time in program history in 2014.

When Kentucky opened its new softball facility in 2013, the venue was named John Cropp Stadium in recognition of his role in establishing and growing the Wildcats softball program into a nationally respected one.

Concessions at John Cropp Stadium are fairly standard and lack much creativity, offering the usual ballpark staples such as hot dogs, pizza, chicken tender baskets, and fries. A small collection of snacks including soft pretzels, popcorn, peanuts, and Cracker Jack rounds out the permanent menu.

What helps elevate the experience a bit are the food trucks parked beyond the right field corner. These rotating vendors provide more specialized options than the main stands, but also expand the dessert offerings with frozen lemonade, cotton candy, and Dippin’ Dots.

Soft drinks come from the Coca-Cola family of beverages, while beer and seltzers are available throughout the stadium, though the alcohol selection mostly sticks to familiar domestic choices.

John Cropp Stadium blends Kentucky blue and gray with steel and aluminum accents to create a clean, modern appearance that mirrors the overall design used throughout Barnhart Athletic Complex.

The main grandstand stretches from one cut of the outfield grass to the other, and features three central sections of chairback seating behind home plate, flanked by aluminum bleachers down each line. Beyond the outfield fence a terraced berm wraps from the right field foul pole into center field, giving fans another relaxed viewing option.

A large videoboard in left field displays virtually every piece of information a fan could want during a game, including batting averages, detailed hitter and pitcher statistics, pitch speed, inning-by-inning scoring, and ball-strike-out counts. Smaller scoreboards mounted to the press box provide additional inning and score information throughout the game.

Music clips and sound effects are used heavily during play, sometimes becoming a bit repetitive in the later innings, though the overall presentation is not much different than what is commonly found at a Minor League Baseball game. Between innings, the entertainment shifts to scoreboard features and occasional on-field contests.

John Cropp Stadium sits within Barnhart Family Athletic Complex, alongside Kentucky Proud Park and the Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex on the southern edge of campus. The complex borders residential neighborhoods and sits across the street from the State Arboretum of Kentucky.

Elsewhere around Lexington, there is no shortage of sports and cultural attractions. The spring sports calendar overlaps with the schedule of Lexington SC of the USL Championship soccer season, while summer baseball brings the Lexington Legends into action. Visitors can also explore Kentucky Horse Park, tour the Mary Todd Lincoln House, or visit Rupp Arena in downtown Lexington. Bourbon tourism is also prominent, with the Distillery District featuring names such as James E. Pepper Distillery and Wild Turkey.

Dining options around the city are plentiful as well. Local favorites include Tolly-Ho, Joe Bologna’s, Wallace Station, and Bourbon n’ Toulouse.

Big Blue Nation supports Kentucky softball well, though the atmosphere can occasionally feel a bit reserved. Visiting fan bases with larger traveling contingents can sometimes create more noise than the home crowd itself.

The Wildcats generally draw around 1,000 fans per game, with SEC conference series typically pushing attendance numbers a bit higher.

Lexington sits directly along Interstate 75, making the city relatively easy to reach from places such as Knoxville and Cincinnati. Even so, the University of Kentucky campus remains roughly 20 minutes from the interstate, and the drive into campus follows busy city thoroughfares that are prone to congestion and lengthy stoplights.

Once at Barnhart Family Complex, parking is available near John Cropp Stadium, though many fans use the lots along College Way and walk a short distance to the gates. Entry into the facility flows through a spacious plaza area that helps alleviate congestion before games, although rivalry matchups can still create lengthy lines prior to first pitch.

Inside the ballpark, concourses are wide enough to move comfortably, and the exterior walkway behind the seating bowl offers the easiest route to most sections. Access along the third base side is somewhat restricted, though it does not significantly impact seating access. During games with larger crowds, concession lines can spill out into the exterior concourse and create occasional bottlenecks.

General admission tickets for conference games run around $14, while non-conference game tickets cost closer to $11. Reserved seating starts at approximately $17. Pricing feels fair overall, though it does stand out slightly in a conference where several programs still offer free admission.

Concession pricing falls in line with what would be expected at a major college sporting event, and combo meals can save fans a small amount on larger orders.

The plaza area outside the seating bowl includes several activities geared toward younger Wildcats fans, including inflatables, face painting, and craft stations.

Kentucky’s mascots “The Wildcat” and the younger “Scratch” make regular appearances throughout games, frequently walking the concourse, interacting with fans, and posing for photos.

The outfield wall also highlights Kentucky softball’s postseason accomplishments, including appearances in the NCAA Regionals, Super Regionals, and the Women’s College World Series.

As with most of the athletic programs at the University of Kentucky, softball takes a backseat to the love of basketball, but the latter is still a highly supported program that offers a highly fan-friendly and entertaining experience for attendees. John Cropp Stadium also provides multiple seating options, from traditional stadium seating to drink rails along the upper-level walkways, as well as tiered grassy seating in the outfield. The venue even allows visiting fans access to their own bullpen, which is a nice plus.