Break out your old-school bomber jackets and Cardinals gear: The "Louisville Live" basketball pep rally is returning to downtown Louisville in 2019.

The University of Louisville men's and women's basketball teams will host the event at Fourth Street Live on Friday, Sept. 27 as a follow-up to last year's wildly popular first installment.

In 2018, 7,500 people turned up to watch basketball players compete in 3-point shooting and dunk contests and to listen to interviews conducted with former Cards. And in an entrance no one is likely to forget, coach Chris Mack, getting ready for his first season, made a splash wearing, yes, a black Louisville bomber jacket.

You may like:Will Louisville basketball schedule a D-I Bellarmine? Chris Mack: 'There's a chance'

Not only is the pep rally an opportunity for fans to get closer to Louisville players and coaches, but it's also a valuable recruiting tool. Aidan Igiehon attended the rally while on his official visit to Louisville just a few weeks before he committed to the Cards.

Details and a schedule of events for this year's "Louisville Live" are still to come, but we are now taking bets on how many times we hear "Return of the Mack" played over the loudspeakers.

Danielle Lerner: 502-582-4042; dlerner@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @Danielle_Lerner. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/daniellel.