ATLANTA, GA – October 1, 2018 – MELT (www.meltatl.com) the award-winning sports, entertainment and culinary marketing agency and its Founder and Auburn Alumnus Vince Thompson announced today their participation in the production of the inaugural “Tipoff at Toomer’s” to celebrate the official start of the 2018-2019 Auburn University basketball season on Thursday night, October 11. MELT is working with a great group of partners in the production including Auburn University, Auburn Athletic Department, Auburn University Student Affairs, The City of Auburn, Auburn-Opelika Tourism, The Coca-Cola Company, Alabama Power and Thompson Tractor. Under Armour will sponsor the court. Toomer’s Corner is perhaps one of the most iconic landmarks in college athletics.
The event is free and open to the public. The event will take place at the heart of where the city and university converge – the corner of College Street and Magnolia Avenue. The event will feature a full day of festivities starting at 10 am CT with a 3v3 basketball tournament open to current Auburn University students. Tiger Talk will broadcast live from 6-7 pm CT on the court. The Auburn men’s basketball team will take the floor for the main event at 8 pm CT which will include player introductions, a 3-point contest, a dunk contest, and 3-on-3 games. The event will be broadcast live on The SEC Network.
Following the main event, the evening wraps up with an autograph session where Auburn fans will be able to meet and greet the 2018-2019 men’s basketball team. There will also be an interactive fan area on the Samford Lawn.
“Tipoff at Toomer’s is a celebration of Auburn Basketball, it’s a celebration of the history of our university and athletic program and some of the most iconic celebrations in the history of college sports,” said Auburn Head Coach Bruce Pearl. “To have The SEC Network here and a national television audience for one hour on October 11th tells you how far our program has come. We’re excited to show off the best college basketball fans in the country in what will be a great night for the program and university in this uniquely Auburn event.”
The event is somewhat of a full circle for MELT Founder, Chairman, and CEO Vince Thompson. Thompson, who graduated from Auburn University in 1984, worked in the Auburn University Sports Information Department as a Student Assistant under David Housel; was a Sports Editor for The Auburn Plainsman and was a member of The Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. Through his training and experience at Auburn, Thompson was able to pursue his dreams and start MELT in 2000, now one of the largest independent sports, entertainment, and culinary marketing agencies in the country. Among the professional highlights and achievements of MELT and Thompson are the following:
*MELT has represented The Coca-Cola Company for 18 years, including the activation of 16 straight Final 4s; 6 seasons of ESPN College GameDay and much more.
SEPTEMBER 2018
BizBash Top 500 People in Events
Vince Thompson CEO – MELT Sports, Culinary & Entertainment
JULY 2018
Event Marketer Top 100 Event Agencies 2018 IT LIST
MELT Sports, Culinary & Entertainment
Atlanta Business Chronicle Most Admired CEO Awards
Most Admired CEO – Vince Thompson in Marketing, PR, and Communications
MAY 2018
2018 American Business Awards
Brand Experience of the Year – Consumer – The Coca-Cola Company, Mondel?z International, The Hershey Company and MELT Sports, Culinary & Entertainment for Coca-Cola’s, “Taste of the Tournament for Kroger, Hershey’s, Mondel?z & The Coca-Cola Company”
APRIL 2018
2018 PR News Social Media Awards
Snapchat – Best Use of Filter – Coca-Cola: ESPN College Gameday
2018 Cynopsis Social Good Awards
Social Good Influencers – MELT University
MARCH 2018
2018 Cynopsis Sports Media Awards
Use of Snapchat – Coca-Cola: ESPN College Gameday
2018 Shopper Marketing Effie Awards
Multi-Brand/Manufacturer Shopper Solution – The Coca-Cola Company, Mondel?z International, The Hershey Company and MELT Sports, Culinary & Entertainment for Coca-Cola’s, “Taste of the Tournament for Kroger, Hershey’s, Mondel?z & The Coca-Cola Company”
DECEMBER 2017
Event Marketer Magazine 2017 Experience Design and Technology Awards
Best Permanent or Pop-Up Retail Experience – The Coca-Cola Kitchen
MAY 2017
2017 American Business Awards Bronze Stevie Award
Marketing / Advertising Agency of the Year – MELT Sports, Culinary & Entertainment
“I’m honored to be coming home to work on this historical event,” said Thompson. “I’m equally honored that Auburn University, the Auburn Athletic Department and Coach Pearl asked me and the MELT team to assist in the production in any way we can.”
“It’s a proud moment for me, especially coming back to Toomer’s Corner, the site of many, many historical Auburn victory celebrations.”