Major League Drone Racing (MLDR) partnered with ASU Preparatory Academy Downtown Phoenix to deliver an unforgettable evening combining holiday celebration, family activities, and high-speed drone sports entertainment. The event took place during the school’s annual Let It Snow festival, transforming the campus into a vibrant gathering space for students, families, faculty, and community members.
The festivities began in the late afternoon as guests arrived to enjoy holiday-themed activities, music, food, and interactive stations set up around campus. ASU Prep’s Let It Snow event created a cheerful winter atmosphere with games, student showcases, food vendors, and opportunities for families to celebrate together.
As the sun set, the energy shifted toward the main spectacle: Major League Drone Racing’s Open Class Championship Exhibition. MLDR brought professional racing pilots, custom-built high-speed drones, PA audio, race gates, LED course elements, and a live sports-style production to the ASU Prep courtyard. The racing arena was safely enclosed with MLDR barriers and professionally supervised by certified race officials.
The highlight of the evening featured MLDR Open Class World Champion Hattar, who returned to defend his title against four elite challengers. Guests watched as pilots launched their drones at speeds exceeding 70 mph, navigating tight turns, obstacles, and precision gates—all from a first-person viewpoint transmitted to the big screens. Each heat delivered intensity, adrenaline, and high-energy crowd reactions as pilots battled for survival in MLDR’s elimination-based format.
Students and families were invited to meet the pilots, view the drones up close, take photos, and learn about the STEM foundations behind drone technology, aviation, robotics, and FPV piloting. MLDR representatives engaged parents and students with explanations of drone components, career opportunities, and pathways to STEM certifications such as the FAA Part 107.
The event concluded with cheers, photos, and excitement as community members celebrated both the Let It Snow festivities and the introduction of a brand-new sports entertainment experience at ASU Prep. The MLDR partnership showcased the school’s commitment to innovation, STEM advancement, and community engagement—setting the stage for future drone racing collaborations and educational opportunities.
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