The question came near the end of her Monday morning presser at the University of Louisville football complex devoted to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Showcase, scheduled Tuesday night at the KFC Yum! Center.
“Would you like to have a new facility strictly designed for UofL volleyball?”
No indication from Busboom Kelly that she was surprised by the question, coming from this Observer, about the the remote possibility of a new and larger separate facility. She has obviously given it some thought, if not verbally or publicly, responding without hesitation:
“That’s always the hope,” she said. “With so many things changing, with NIL and college athletics in general. I don’t think that’s coming anytime soon. I know that would be a goal for our administration and for myself to have our own facility somewhere.”
So there it was, out in the open, a desire for a new facility for Louisville Volleyball. One would hope that Dr. Mark Lynn, the generous donor for two soccer stadiums in Louisville or someone of his stature, his resources and generous nature is receptive to the idea. Seems to be the Observer that a 6,000-to-8,000-seat arena in the vicinity of the old silo site on Floyd Street would be an ideal location.
Having her own major facility just might be to UofL’s advantage when, not if, Busboom Kelly’s alma mater, Nebraska, comes calling in the future.
The Cardinals currently play their home games in the sold-out 1,100-seat L&N Arena on Belknap Campus. They also will play seven games at the KFC Yum! Center, including Tuesday night’s AVCA Showcase vvent as the sixth-ranked team against third-ranked Wisconsin at 9 p.m. Nebraska and Kentucky will meet in the first match at 7 p.m.
“For us to be included in the AVCA Classic is a testament to not only our team but to the investment the that University has made in volleyball,” she said. “We’ve proven ourselves to a be a top 10 program every single year. It’s a big deal to our program to be invited and to host the event.”
College women’s volleyball is experiencing explosive growth, according to Forbes Magazine:
Participation, viewership, and attendance in girls and women’s volleyball hit all-time highs in the U.S., with future forecasts indicating sustained growth for years to come. These positive trends coincide with overall estimates of revenue growth for women’s sport worldwide, as Deloitte has projected that women’s elite sport will generate more than $1.2 billion dollars in revenue for 2024.
Busboom Kelly has compiled an impressive won-lost record of 174-38 since arriving in Louisville for the 2017 season. That includes seven appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including three Final Fours and one national championship runner up. She’s especially excited about the upcoming season.
“We’ve had an amazing pre-season,” she said. “We have a great team of returnees, we’ve added some players that will play key roles. We’ve done what we can to put a great team on the court. I feel good about where we are right now.”