University members and community partners join forces for the second Homecoming Drone Show

Building on the success of last year’s first halftime drone show, the Nevada Wolf Pack Homecoming game will once again feature a breathtaking drone light show on October 18th. Last year, Nevada State Bank, along with university and community partners, presented the first-ever halftime drone show, delighting fans with 150 drones lighting up the sky in celebration of the university’s 150th anniversary.

In preparation for this year’s event, a dedicated team from Nevada Athletics, Open Sky Productions, Nevada State Bank, University Police Services and various University faculty and staff have worked behind the scenes for weeks to create an even more spectacular show.

“Our inspiration for last year’s show came from Nevada Athletics and symbols and symbols that are significant to Northern Nevada and the theme of homecoming,” said Jeff Shoji, director of fan engagement for Nevada Athletics. “We added unique elements like incorporating the band into the middle of the show, projecting drone formations onto the video board, and honoring the Hall of Fame recipients with their names in the sky.” This year, we want the experience increase even further.”

A drone show requires between 40 and 80 hours of programming because each drone flies autonomously using advanced software.

“We hold several meetings beforehand to determine the launch area, outline the area where drones can fly, close off areas where fans cannot walk and work with air traffic to ensure everything is correct and in line will be conducted with all safety protocols in place,” Mark Genung, operator of the Nevada UAS Test Site in the university’s Research and Innovation Department, said. “This intricate coordination creates magical performances that captivate audiences, and we look forward to doing so again this year.”

Nevada State Bank, a proud sponsor of the Wolf Pack, played a critical role in presenting the show last year and will be at the center of the celebration again this year.

“Nevada State Bank is proud to support the Wolf Pack and we want to celebrate Homecoming 2024 with a high-tech experience that everyone can enjoy,” said Sandi Milton, Senior Vice President/Marketing Communications at NSB. “Thanks to our friends at Open Sky Productions, we are excited to present a state-of-the-art drone show with music and videoboard elements to celebrate the University of Nevada’s 150th anniversary in a mesmerizing, sky-high spectacle.”

After last year’s performance set the bar high, this year’s drone show promises to be an even more memorable highlight of the 2024 homecoming celebration.

“Open Sky Productions is pleased to once again partner with Nevada State Bank and the university to deliver another impressive drone light show,” said Nate Mortensen, CEO of Open Sky Productions. “Our goal is to push the boundaries of creativity and amaze audiences.”

To purchase tickets to the 2024 Wolf Pack Homecoming game against Fresno State and view this year’s Halftime Drone Show, visit the Nevada Wolf Pack event website or call 775-348-PACK (7225).