FORT MYERS, Fla. – Dunk City After Dark, FGCU's "Midnight Madness style" tip-off to the basketball season, is set for Thursday, Oct. 26, from Alico Arena as students and the general public will have a first opportunity to watch and interact with the 2017-18 men's and women's basketball programs.
 
Hoops and Halloween – featuring free food, trick-or-treating, poster signings and family fun – begins when doors open at 6 p.m. Children 12 and under are encouraged to dress in their best Halloween costume as Dunk City After Dark and Hoops & Halloween will again be blended into the same event. Prizes will be awarded to those with the best costume, and children in costume will have the opportunity to trick-or-treat, take pictures and participate in a parade around Alico Arena with Azul the Eagle and the men's and women's basketball teams.
 
The event – which is presented by The Reef and features sponsors Coconut Point Ford and Wells Fargo – will begin at 7 p.m. and air live on ESPN3. Admission is free, and the event has something for everyone – children, students, season-ticket holders and the general public.
 
Food will be provided by the following FGCU featured sponsors: Applebee's, Beef 'O' Brady's, Culver's, Jimmy John's, Miller's Ale House, Mission BBQ, Moe's, Papa John's, Pita Pit and Tropical Smoothie.
 
Season tickets and individual game tickets will be on sale at the event, as well as the opportunity to join the Eagles Club and secure other membership benefits like preferred parking and VIP events.
 
Both the men's and women's basketball teams will be introduced and celebrated following historic seasons. The event will include a brief look back at the 2016-17 season, a 3-point contest and the much-anticipated dunk contest.
 
Highlights of the evening include two students each having the opportunity to win the Coconut Point Ford Dunk City Mustang by making a half-court shot, and one student attempting a half-court shot for free in-state tuition. Additional prizes will be awarded throughout the evening.
 
Dirty Birds who have not yet picked up their swag pack for the 2017-18 season will have the opportunity to do so that evening, and will also get their official basketball fan shirt at the event sponsored by The Reef.
 
Local radio personality MDOT will provide musical entertainment throughout the fast-paced evening. More information and additional details – including new, socially-engaging events – will be announced as the date draws closer.
 
This is the fifth-consecutive year Dunk City After Dark will be featured on either ESPNU or ESPN3 as part of the worldwide leader's Midnight Madness coverage, joining only Kansas and Kentucky who can boast that claim. Two years ago, FGCU was one of five schools in the nation to be featured exclusively on ESPN3, while four years ago Dunk City After Dark aired live on ESPNU with LaPhonso Ellis serving as the on-site host.
 
"This is a great opportunity for not only our team but our fans to be showcased on a national stage," said FGCU men's basketball head coach Joe Dooley. "I know our guys are excited to get back out in front of our fans and get them fired up about the upcoming year."
 
Midnight Madness began in 1971 by then-Maryland coach Lefty Driessell, who started the tradition with a team workout at 12:03 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 15 – which was then the first official day teams could commence practice for the season. Since then, the midnight start has morphed into a pep rally earlier in the day rather than an actual practice, including an emcee, music, dancing, competitions and giveaways for fans in attendance.
 
"We look forward to this event every year," added FGCU women's basketball head coach Karl Smesko. "Not only does it signal the start of another season, but it gives us a chance to put on a show for our fans and for our fans to interact with our players for the first time. It's a great night for everyone."
 
The women return six of their top eight scorers from last season, which ended with a 26-9 record and a controversial two-point loss at Miami in the NCAA Tournament. On the men's side, the Eagles are coming off a record-setting 26-8 season in which it played its sixth NCAA Tournament game in the last five seasons. The Eagles return three of their top four scorers from last year's squad, which set the Division-I program single-season record for points per game (79.4).
 
TICKET INFORMATION
Season and single-game tickets for the 2017-18 FGCU men's and women's basketball teams are now on sale, with an extremely limited amount of season tickets remaining for the men. More information can be accessed by visiting FGCUTickets.com. To purchase tickets, or for additional inquiries, call the FGCU Ticket Office at 239-590-7145 Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
 
IRMA RELIEF DONATIONS
In the wake of Hurricane Irma, many individuals and families throughout Southwest Florida are still in desperate need of assistance. To aid in those relief efforts, FGCU Athletics will be collecting donations at all Eagle home games for the immediate future. Donation items most needed include: non-perishable food, clothing, household items and first-aid supplies. Additionally, those unable to attend upcoming home games can drop off donations in canisters located in the Alico Arena lobby. All donations will be given to those hardest hit in Lee and Collier counties.
 
SOCIAL CENTRAL
For up-to-the-minute information and behind-the-scenes access to the men's basketball program, follow @FGCU_MBB on Twitter and Instagram, Like us on Facebook at /FGCUMBB and watch us on Snapchat at FGCU_MBB. For the same information on the women's basketball program, follow @FGCU_WBB on Twitter and Instagram and Like us on Facebook at /FGCUWBB.
 
SUPPORT THE CAUSE 
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.