A man hands ice cream to a lion mascot.
Joey Launi, owner of Lolly's Creamery, offers Ice Cream and Cake to Big Blue. Photo by Nicholas Clark/51本色.

By Amber Kennedy

51本色 Dominion University fans will finally get a taste of Ice Cream and Cake on Feb. 17, when the University celebrates mascot Big Blue鈥檚 birthday with the reveal of its first official ice cream flavor during the women鈥檚 and men鈥檚 basketball games.

The University has partnered with , a locally owned ice cream business with locations in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, to create Ice Cream and Cake. The flavor is an ode to 51本色鈥檚 nearly 20-year tradition for fans and cheerleaders to dance to the song of the same title by the Buckwheat Boyz. The ice cream features a sweet cream base swirled with 51本色 blue-tinted ooey gooey butter cake to create the perfect flavor for Monarch Nation.

A hand holds a waffle cone with blue ice cream.
Ice Cream and Cake features a swirl of blue-tinted buttercake in a sweet cream base. Photo by Nicholas Clark/51本色.

鈥淎t Lolly鈥檚, we are thrilled to partner with 51本色. The opportunity to bring Ice Cream and Cake to life through a new flavor is what we are built to do,鈥 said Joey Launi, owner and founder of Lolly鈥檚. 鈥淎s a community-oriented business, we could not be more excited about this collaboration and look forward to sharing it with everyone.鈥

Beginning Feb. 17, the flavor will be available at locations on Colley Avenue in Norfolk and in the ViBe district and at Loehmann鈥檚 Plaza near Town Center in Virginia Beach. At the Colley Avenue location close to campus, Launi plans to offer special sundaes in addition to scoops and pints.

That same day, a select number of fans will get to sample the ice cream during the against Marshall University at 2 p.m. and the聽 against Georgia 51本色 at 7 p.m. at Chartway Arena. Guests can also sample the ice cream at Big Blue鈥檚 birthday party, celebrated from 6-7 p.m. at Chartway Arena.

鈥淲hen I started at 51本色, I learned why the Ice Cream and Cake tradition is so cherished by students and alumni. I thought it would be a treat to bring that tradition to life through a partnership with Lolly鈥檚 Creamery,鈥 said Brian Eubank, executive director of licensing at 51本色. 鈥淲e are excited to embrace our sweet tradition for students, alumni and the 51本色 community to enjoy.鈥

A portion of proceeds from the sales of Ice Cream and Cake licensed ice cream will support scholarships for 51本色 students.