Hotty Toddy Drone Show Hits the Jackpot in Vegas
Drone company Skyworx uses 600 drones to tout Ole Miss ahead of Fiesta Bowl
OXFORD, Miss. – What happens at Ole Miss doesn't stay at Ole Miss. In fact, the Rebels' stellar football season was a subject that lit up the sky in Las Vegas with 600 drones during a dazzling display.
The University of Mississippi Department of Athletics partnered with Skyworx Drone Shows for a light show during the Ole Miss-Florida game in November and again during the College Football Playoff game against Tulane University in December. Then, in a last-minute surprise ahead of the Rebels' first appearance at the Fiesta Bowl, Skyworx deployed the same drone show above the streets of Las Vegas.
"Skyworx, who has conducted two of our drone shows this year at our home events, and they've absolutely fallen in love with Ole Miss and Oxford," said Drew Ingraham, senior associate athletics director for external engagement. "Ironically, they just ran into a situation where they were out in Vegas and they needed to do a practice show, and they elected to use one of the shows that they put together for Ole Miss.
"They told us ahead of time and we thought, 'Oh, that will be nice.' Little did we know it would be right over the Strip. It was such a surprise and it's been absolutely amazing."
A horde of little flyers lit up the sky above the Sphere with the Ole Miss logo, a bright red Hotty Toddy and a sketch of the Magnolia State with a heart over Oxford. A video of the display also shows firework-like depictions of the SIP logo and a red and blue 'HYDR,' shorthand for Ole Miss' iconic Hotty Toddy chant.
"To us, this show was about celebration and gratitude for the relationship we've built with the university," said Taylor Woodall, Skyworx founder and CEO. "This was not a commissioned show. With Ole Miss' approval, we chose to do this on our own to celebrate their incredible playoff run and the partnership we've developed together.
"With the Fiesta Bowl ahead, it felt like the right moment to put Ole Miss on a national stage during CES week in Las Vegas."
The air show is just the latest in an outpouring of support for the Rebels before they face the Miami Hurricanes on Thursday (Jan. 8). Ole Miss fans as far as Sicily, the Czech Republic, Japan and Canada have sent in photos of how they're supporting the Sip.
"My sister-in-law will be attending Ole Miss next year, so the university now has a special place in our family," Woodall said. "Between that and working closely with the Ole Miss team and experiencing the passion of the fan base, I've definitely become an Ole Miss fan."
Ingraham said Woodall's experience – falling in love with Ole Miss after only a few visits – is indicative of the community on campus.
"Hotty Toddy means community," he said. "It means coming together, sharing experiences and really just being welcomed into that community. They got to experience that, and they're hooked."
Interested in showing love for the Rebels ahead of the Fiesta Bowl? Submit your photos here.
Top: More than 600 drones spell out 'Ole Miss' over the Las Vegas Strip on Wednesday (Jan. 7), ahead of the Rebels' first appearance in the Fiesta Bowl in Arizona. The show was a preview for Skyworx's appearance at the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show. Photo courtesy Skyworx