Img 5146 Edited Auburn, Auburn Community, Basketball, Concert, Tipoff, Toomer'S Corner — Aubie the Tiger waves to the crowd from the 2024 Tipoff at Toomer’s basketball court. (Ella Walton / The Bama Buzz)

On Thursday, Oct. 17, Tipoff at Toomer’s returned to Auburn after a two-year break.

The free community event, set in the center of the Toomer’s Corner intersection downtown, served to welcome in the basketball seasons of the Auburn men’s and women’s teams.

Keep reading to learn more about what Tipoff at Toomer’s entailed!

Downtown Auburn closed

Img 5128 Edited Scaled Auburn, Auburn Community, Basketball, Concert, Tipoff, Toomer'S Corner — Families congregate on Samford Lawn before tipoff begins. (Ella Walton / The Bama Buzz)

While shops and restaurants remained open for business, Downtown Auburn closed off Thursday afternoon to set up the evening’s festivities.

On Samford Lawn, corn hole, a bouncy house + photo backdrop was set up for the community to enjoy. A VIP section was included for those that paid for an exclusive experience.

At 5:30PM, crowds began to congregate around the stage and basketball court set up in the South College and Magnolia intersection. While crowds waited for tip-off to officially begin, Aubie took to the court and showed off his hooping skills.

Auburn’s men’s + women’s basketball teams take to the court

Img 5182 Edited Scaled Auburn, Auburn Community, Basketball, Concert, Tipoff, Toomer'S Corner — Auburn Basketball player Dylan Cardwell poses for a picture with a fan. (Ella Walton / The Bama Buzz)

At approximately 6:30 p.m., the members of Auburn University’s 2024-2025 women’s basketball team and Coach Johnnie Harris took to the court, each with their own chosen walk-up song.

The men’s basketball team and coach Bruce Pearl were then introduced, followed by a performance by Auburn’s dance team, the Tiger Paws.

Slam-dunk start to the 2024-2025 season

Img 5236 Edited Scaled Auburn, Auburn Community, Basketball, Concert, Tipoff, Toomer'S Corner — The Auburn community cheers on as Auburn University basketball players partake in a dunking competition. (Ella Walton / The Bama Buzz)

The Auburn community cheered on Auburn’s basketball players as they participated in a series of contests: a three-point contest, a dunking contest + a small scrimmage.

Once the basketball festivities concluded, it was announced that the men’s and women’s basketball teams would be moving to Samford Lawn for autograph signing.

Auburn tunes in to free concert by Cole Swindell

Img 5294 Auburn, Auburn Community, Basketball, Concert, Tipoff, Toomer'S Corner — Cole Swindell fans crowd the stage as he opens with popular song “Flatliner.” (Ella Walton / The Bama Buzz)

The basketball festivities concluded around 7:15PM, when those that purchased tickets for a closer concert experience surrounded the stage. By the time country superstar Cole Swindell appeared onstage at 8:30PM, the streets of Downtown Auburn were filled to capacity.

Tipoff at Toomer’s return was a successful one, leaving Auburn community members “hoopful” for a great basketball season this year.

Auburn Men’s + Women’s 2024-2025 basketball schedules can be found here:

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