Professional basketball
The Kentucky Colonels of the American Basketball Association played their home games in Freedom Hall for six seasons, from the fall of 1970 until the ABA–NBA merger in June 1976. The Colonels moved to Freedom Hall after playing their first three seasons at the Convention Center (1967–68 through 1969–70).
The first female to play in a professional basketball game did so on the floor of Freedom Hall during a Kentucky Colonels game. Penny Ann Early, an aspiring jockey, briefly entered the game for the Kentucky Colonels against the Los Angeles Stars on November 28, 1968.
The 1972 ABA All-Star Game was played at Freedom Hall on January 29, 1972. 15,738 fans attended; the East, coached by Kentucky Colonels coach Joe Mullaney, defeated the West 142–115. The game's Most Valuable Player was the Kentucky Colonels' Dan Issel.
Many ABA playoff games were held at Freedom Hall including the Kentucky Colonels winning the 1975 American Basketball Association Championship at Freedom Hall. The following ABA playoff games were played at Freedom Hall:
- 1971: Games 1, 2 and 5 of the 1971 Eastern Division Semifinals (Kentucky Colonels over The Floridians 4 games to 2); Games 1, 3 4 and 6 of the 1971 Eastern Division Finals (Kentucky Colonels over the Virginia Squires, 4 games to 2); and Games 3, 4 and 6 of the 1971 American Basketball Association Championship (Utah Stars over the Kentucky Colonels 4 games to 3).
- 1972: Games 1, 2 and 5 of the 1972 Eastern Division Semifinals (New York Nets over the Kentucky Colonels, 4 games to 2).
- 1973: Games 1, 2 and 5 of the 1973 Eastern Division Semifinals (Kentucky Colonels over the Virginia Squires 4 games to 1); Games 3, 4 and 6 of the 1973 Eastern Division Finals (Kentucky Colonels over the Carolina Cougars 4 games to 3); and Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 of the 1973 American Basketball Association Championship (Indiana Pacers over the Kentucky Colonels, 4 games to 3).
- 1974: Games 1 and 2 of the 1974 Eastern Division Semifinals (Kentucky Colonels over the Carolina Cougars, 4 games to 0); Games 3 and 4 of the 1974 Eastern Division Finals (New York Nets over the Kentucky Colonels 4 games to 0).
- 1975: 1975 one-game playoff for 1975 First Place in the Eastern Division (Kentucky Colonels 108, New York Nets 99); Games 1, 2 and 5 of the 1975 Eastern Division Semifinals (Kentucky Colonels over the Memphis Sounds, 4 games to 1); Games 1, 2 and 5 of the 1975 Eastern Division Finals (Kentucky Colonels over the Spirits of St. Louis, 4 games to 1); and Games 1, 2 and 5 of the 1975 American Basketball Association Championship (Kentucky Colonels over the Indiana Pacers, 4 games to 1).
- 1976: Games 1 and 3 of the 1976 First Round Miniseries (Kentucky Colonels over the Indiana Pacers, 2 games to 1); Games 3, 4 and 6 of the 1976 Semifinals (Denver Nuggets over the Kentucky Colonels, 4 games to 3). The Colonels' final game was played in this series, a 133–110 loss at Denver on April 28, 1976.
Games and scores
In addition, the Kentucky Colonels played several exhibition games against teams from the National Basketball Association in Freedom Hall, winning nine and losing five, including:
- September 22, 1971: Kentucky Colonels 111, Baltimore Bullets 85 (attendance, 13,821)
- October 8, 1971: Milwaukee Bucks 99, Kentucky Colonels 93 (attendance over 18,000)
- October 9, 1971: New York Knicks 112, Kentucky Colonels 100 (attendance, 12,238)
- October 1, 1972: Milwaukee Bucks 131, Kentucky Colonels 100
- October 6, 1972: Phoenix Suns 103, Kentucky Colonels 91
- October 7, 1972: Baltimore Bullets 95, Kentucky Colonels 93
- September 21, 1973 Kentucky Colonels 110, Houston Rockets 102
- September 22, 1973 Kentucky Colonels 110, Kansas City–Omaha Kings 99
- October 1, 1974 Kentucky Colonels 118, Washington Bullets 95
- October 8, 1974 Kentucky Colonels 109, Detroit Pistons 100
- October 12, 1974 Kentucky Colonels 93, Chicago Bulls 75
- October 8, 1975 Kentucky Colonels 93, Golden State Warriors 90 (the Colonels and Warriors were the defending ABA and NBA Champions, respectively)
- October 10, 1975 Kentucky Colonels 96, Milwaukee Bucks 91
- October 14, 1975 Kentucky Colonels 120, Buffalo Braves 116
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