With the lights turned out, makeshift bunkers in place and plenty of attendees, the first laser tag event proved to be a success.

Students filtered in and out of the William “Bill” Cherry Exposition Center last weekend for the first laser tag tournament and free-play.

“Preparation and the event itself was successful,” said Becky Ballard, director of Expo Center and coordinator of the event. “All in all the people I talked to said they had a blast.”

The event lasted from Feb. 20-23. Throughout the weekend, more than 100 people attended.

“A total of seven groups showed up on Sunday to play,” she said. “We expected more people on Saturday, but overall it was a fun time.”

The Expo Center did not spend a large amount of money on the event due to a low budget, Ballard said. However, the event still proved successful.

“Several students came up to me asking when we were going to do this again,” she said. “We are planning to come up with a plan either September or October of this year. We also plan to use black lights and black out our windows so we can really get it dark in there and spread the word much better with advertisements and preparation.”

Once the Expo Center closed for the night, the staff had a round of their own fun.

“When we locked up, me and the rest of the staff played our own games of laser tag,” Ballard said. “Since we knew how to work the machines, it was one of the most violent games I’ve experienced.”

Story by McKenzie Willett, staff writer