On Nov. 5, the University of Indianapolis hosted its first ever Nic @ Nite event. The event took place in Nicoson Hall, and included contests, performances and giveaways.
Upon entering the event, I was greeted by enthusiastic students who were passing out tickets for free pizza. Around the pizza station, there was a push-up contest and an inflatable, arcade-style basketball game where two players compete to see who can make the most shots in a certain amount of time. These activities had prizes available for the winners. There was also a station for fans to take photos with the NCAA Final Four trophy.
UIndy’s cheer team was present, exhibiting tons of school spirit and encouraging attendees to do the same. They gave an impressive performance at the beginning of the event, but continued to dance and cheer throughout.
Energy was high the whole night, but especially picked up when the UIndy men’s and women’s basketball teams were announced. Each player was introduced, and then contests between players and non-basketball players began. The events started with a dunk contest, where selected faculty rated each dunk on a scale of 1 to 10. The next contest was not related to basketball, but it was a crowd-pleaser. Non-basketball players and basketball players faced each other in an intense game of “Finish the Lyrics,” getting the crowd on their feet.
There was a quick break in between competitions, giving UIndy’s dance team a chance to perform. The dancers maintained the high energy of the event with their lively performance. When they concluded, it was back to basketball related competitions, with a 3-point contest and a game of knockout. These games were fast paced and exciting, keeping all attendees fully engaged.
The final contest was one non-basketball player being challenged to make a certain amount of baskets, including one from half-court, within a certain amount of time. Although he was close, he was unable to make the half-court shot in time and therefore did not win the coveted prize, 50-inch flat screen TV. The event then concluded with free T-shirts being handed out.
UIndy’s first Nic @ Nite event was successful as most attendees seemed engaged and excited to participate. The basketball teams, cheerleaders, dance team, and other leaders of the event did a great job creating a fun, energetic atmosphere to get people excited for the upcoming basketball season. Nic @ Nite was a solid addition to UIndy’s sports marketing events and I hope to see it return next year!
