Shaquille O’Neal, aka DJ Diesel, to be featured performer at Late Night in the Phog

By Matt Tait     Sep 26, 2022
    •

Former NBA basketball player Shaquille O' Neal DJ's at Shaq's Fun House, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, in Miami. This carnival themed music festival is one of numerous events taking place in advance of Miami hosting Super Bowl LIV on Feb. 2. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

As if unveiling the newest championship banner and handing out NCAA title rings to the returning players was not big enough for this year’s Late Night in the Phog, Kansas Athletics has added a little more physical size to the event, as well.

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, now known as “DJ Diesel,” will be this year’s featured performer, hosting what a KU news release called, “an energetic and fast-paced set on James Naismith Court in front of a frenzied Allen Fieldhouse crowd.”

The fun is slated for Friday, Oct. 14, when the KU men’s and women’s basketball teams will usher in the unofficial start of the 2022-23 season with scrimmages, skits and more.

During DJ Diesel’s performance, Allen Fieldhouse will be staged in a different manner than in the past, and other interactive entertainment will be featured during O’Neal’s set.

O’Neal began composing rap music in 1993. In addition to his Hall of Fame basketball career, during which he won four NBA titles and MVP honors in 2000, O’Neal has been featured in movies, on television, in video games and more.

This year’s event again will feature the Phog Fest on the front law of Allen Fieldhouse, beginning at 2 p.m. Students will be allowed to enter Allen Fieldhouse at 4:45 p.m., with gates for the general public opening at 5 p.m.

Admission to Late Night will continue to be free for fans, however, tickets will have to be claimed online in advance, with all seats outside of the student section being reserved.

Reserved tickets will be made available to all Williams Education Fund members first, beginning Wednesday. The remaining inventory will be made available to the general public start on Oct. 4.

A KU spokesperson told the Journal-World that the ticket office will contact each of the following groups during their reservation windows and that the general public can call the office or visit KUathletics.com.

Ticket Reservation Timeline:

• Hall of Fame Donors and Student Combo Pass Holders: Wednesday, Sept. 28

• Champion Donors: Thursday, Sept. 29

• Olympian to Legend Donors: Friday, Sept. 30

• MVP to Outland Donors, Faculty/Staff and General Student Body: Monday, Oct. 3

• General Public: Tuesday, Oct. 4

Fans are once again encouraged to bring non-perishable food items which will be donated Just Food of Douglas County. Kansas Athletics will be collecting food and donations throughout the day.

Free parking will be available in Lot 90, east and south of Allen Fieldhouse across Naismith Drive, beginning at noon. Fans also may park in in the parking garage just north of Allen Fieldhouse, with hourly rates applying until 4 p.m. and a fee of $5 per car after 4 p.m.

This year’s Late Night in the Phog will be the 38th annual edition of the season tip-off and it is slated to begin at 6 p.m.

PREV POST

Kansas soccer program pleased at season's midway point but eager to find offense as Big 12 play heats up
NEXT POST

83532Shaquille O’Neal, aka DJ Diesel, to be featured performer at Late Night in the Phog
Author Photo

Written By Matt Tait

A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.