Students gathered behind the Honors House in the 48 degree weather as football players, Athletic Director Bill Scholl and Ball State President Jo Ann Gora kicked off the first Homecoming Village, reminding everyone that it is the students who make Homecoming Week special.
"There is nothing more fun than Homecoming Week," Gora said.
To add to the fun, Gora went down the zip line at the start of the event.
The crowd chanted and clapped as the Pride of Mid-America marching band played the Ball State fight song and then dispersed off to the zip line, rock wall and other activities Homecoming Village offered Monday night. The Village spanned the length of Martin Street between Riverside and University avenues.
"Having the football team, Jo Ann Gora and the band kick off the event got people hyped up for Homecoming Week," event volunteer Kelly Smith said.
Jordan Habayeb, opening day chairman for the Homecoming Steering Committee, said 3,128 people showed up despite the cold conditions. The attendance was three times the expectations of Habayeb and the Homecoming committee.
"It is one of the most successful opening nights of Homecoming Week ever," he said.
The weather set the tone for the night as people came in heavy coats and often gathered together to keep warm.
For some activities, such as the Texas Hold 'Em tournament, fewer people than expected showed up. Junior finance and risk management major Evan Garmon said 20 people had signed up for the tournament, but eight showed up.
"We're kind of bummed about the turn out, but it is pretty cold out here," Garmon said. "You know it's bad when you can barely pick up the cards."
Other activities featured at the Homecoming Village saw more traffic throughout the night. Lines formed at the zip line and the rock-climbing wall.
"The lines are pretty long, but that is to be expected," sophomore Mackenzie Baker said.
The Red Bull Four-Legged Race, a photo booth and horseshoes also saw people waiting to take their turn.
The Homecoming Village offered something new for some students. Junior public relations major Ricky Teitloff had never been on a zip line before Monday's event.
"It's a lot higher once you get up there, but it's a lot of fun," he said.
The event also provided a chance for businesses in and around the Village to attract new customers and increase business - at least for the day.
Village Green Records owner Travis Harvey, whose business was right in the middle of the Homecoming Village, said he saw a lot of new faces in his store Monday night.
"It's bringing a lot of people into this area," Harvey said.
Another business that saw a noticeably higher number of customers for a Monday was The Cup. Alexandra Edwards, a barista at the Cup, said Mondays are usually slower days, but during the festivities, she felt overwhelmed at times due to the number of customers.
"We had a lot of people come in getting hot chocolate and hot espresso drinks," the junior nursing student said. "I think it's good because it encourages the freshmen who maybe haven't been to the Village to explore a little and see what we have to offer."
Businesses in the Village welcomed the new wave of customers.
"Really, this event is a no-brainer," Harvey said. "There should be more like it."
If Habayeb gets his way, there will be. The senior organizational communication major said the committee would likely do something very similar next year.
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