With the section of Magnolia Avenue between College and Gay streets blocked off, a sea of orange and blue piled on top of the pavement for Auburn University's first ever pep rally and downtown event, The Friday Night Kick-Off Block Party on Sept. 4 from 6 to 8 p.m.
The event was hosted by the Auburn Downtown Merchants Association at the edge of Toomer's Corner for the first game against Louisiana Tech. As fans lined the streets to the marching band playing the fight song with a rally of Greek letters bouncing in the crowd, it was the cheering of familiar chants by the university cheerleaders that unearthed the school spirit that had been slumbering through the summer.
"This is my first semester at Auburn and I am excited about the spirit here," said Cristal Johnson, a junior who is majoring in apparel merchandising and recent transfer from the University of Georgia.
This year was the first year that Auburn University returned back to the tradition of pep rallies at Toomer's Corner, the historic location for the beginning and ending of many athletic traditions at Auburn with the Tiger Walk and rolling of Toomer's Oak trees.
Abby Steverson, a junior in interior design and Ear Eagle Girl said that after two years of past pep rallies being held at other locations this was the location that she preferred. "This is like coming back home," Steverson said. "This is where I imagine pep rallies."
After a few spoken words from Auburn's wide receivers coach, Trooper Taylor and rallying from the Student Government Association, fans enjoyed live entertainment from the Auburn Dance Team and The Answer Band with music varieties of Motown, funk and popular hits.
Chris Kearns, Auburn University graduate student in community planning and member of the ADMA for Badger Properties, said the Friday night event was a success. "It was good for the first one," Kearns said. "The SGA crowd was huge."
The Friday Night Kick-Off is scheduled to be a reoccurring event at every university home game until Nov. 7 and will feature some downtown merchants staying open late until 8 p.m.
Despite some initial controversy by other downtown merchants, Terry Shea, owner of Wrapsody, a gift and accessory boutique, said the downtown event was good for business because it offered more pedestrian traffic on the street and through the downtown area.
For the next Friday Night Kick-Off Block Party the ADMA will offer a coupon book that can be purchased for $10 to help sponsor the event and the merchants participating to entice a larger crowd to stay after the pep rally. The coupons will offer discounts at various boutiques and restaurants such as Ellie, Ellie Shoes and Mellow Mushroom.
"This is some of the best discounts that have ever been offered from many of the downtown merchants," Kearns said.
With the help of Auburn's Environmental Awareness Organization, students and volunteers were on hand to pick up trash and recyclables.
"Overall I think the city was happy," Kearns said. "The band was great and the streets were clean."
Sponsors of the event included the Auburn Alumni Association, The Auburn Opelika Tourism Bureau, Opelika Auburn News, The Corner News, Tiger Rags, Stamp and AubrunArt.com
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