Arizona State University Tailgating
RVers who love a desert-based tailgate should bring their rig to an Arizona State University tailgate party and explore Arizona en route.
Event information
Arizona State University, located in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, is home to the historic Sun Devil Stadium. Sun Devil Stadium is a beautiful open-air stadium surrounded by two mountain buttes. The stadium's elevation showcases some of Arizona's iconic purple and pink desert sunsets, helping to create the most beautiful evening football games in the state. At the stadium, Sparky the Sun Devil leads ASU fans with his dynamic facial expressions and handy pitchfork.
The stadium, named after the PAC-12 collegiate football team, the Arizona State University Sun Devils, has served the university and the cities of Tempe and Phoenix since 1958. The stadium has undergone multiple renovations and expansions, helping to make the 70,000 seat facility what it is today. Before the Arizona Cardinals had a stadium of their own, Sun Devil Stadium served as the NFL's home turf. The facility held a Superbowl and was the annual site of the Fiesta Bowl from 1971-2006 when the Fiesta Bowl moved to State Farm Stadium, the new home of the Arizona Cardinals.
During each home game, Sun Devil Stadium transforms into a college-football tailgating paradise. Tailgaters come to the facility to take part in parking lot tailgates or one of the stadium's public or private tailgating parties. Football fans donned in gold and maroon and led by ASU's mascot, Sparky the Sun Devil, taunt every opponent chanting "fear the fork" while flashing finger pitchforks.
Arizona State University football is legendary, bringing both in state and out of state visitors to Sun Devil Stadium for every home game. The City of Tempe welcomes everyone and encourages visitors to explore all that the city and the Valley of the Sun have to offer. RV tailgaters looking for an excuse to escape to warmer weather during football season should plan an RV trip around a football game and explore more of Arizona along their journey.
Tickets
ASU football games are fun for people of all ages, and because of the team's popularity, tickets often sell out quickly. Sun Devil fans have several ticketing options such as season, group, mini-plan, premium, and single-game tickets. Prices vary depending on ticket levels, location of seats, and the game's popularity. Buy your tickets online at Sun Devil Football to secure your seats.
Explore Arizona State University Tailgating RV Rentals
Transportation
Driving
Sun Devil Stadium is located in the Greater Metropolitan Phoenix area's southeast valley, conveniently located near some of the city's most traveled highways and interstates. The stadium sits in between I-10, Loop 101, Loop 202, US-60, and SR 143, making the stadium easy to access from almost anywhere in the city. Phoenix's roads are well-cared for and even out of state drivers won't have trouble navigating the highways. Drivers should watch for game-day detours as well as the implementation of game-day HOV (or carpool) lanes. The detours and HOV lanes will have clear signs so all drivers understand which routes they should take.
For real-time game day traffic updates, the university updates its fans using social media. Visit the Sun Devil Football website to learn more about live updates and to find out which social media outlets are broadcasting traffic and parking updates.
Parking areas
Arizona State University Alumni jump at the opportunity to attend football games at Sun Devil Stadium. Games at Sun Devil Stadium are teeming with gold and maroon, but that doesn't mean that the opportunity to support the opposing team doesn't exist. Because of the Sun Devil's popularity, home games draw thousands of football fans to the Tempe area. Parking spots are determined by a ticket holder's season pass status as well as his or her Sun Devil Athletics Priority Points level. Pass Holder lots are for season ticket holders. Season ticket holders who wish to RV should inquire about the Pass Holder RV Lot.
Football fans who aren't season ticket holders may park in the Guest / Pay lots. The Guest / Pay lots open 3.5 hours before the start of the game. The RV and Bus Parking Lot, located in University Corner, is the best place for oversized vehicle parking. All football fans must exit the parking lot after the end of the game. No overnight parking is permitted.
Public Transportation
Tempe, Arizona is part of the Greater Metropolitan Phoenix area's bus and rail system, Valley Metro. Valley Metro is a well-developed public transportation system that provides bus and rail options for football fans who prefer to park off-site and ride to the stadium. For fans who want a more personalized ride, several rideshare services, as well as taxis, private buses, and shuttles are available to bring fans to and from the game.
Where to stay
Onsite
Since there aren't any overnight accommodations onsite, football fans will have to vacate the parking lot within an hour after the game ends. Thankfully, several RV, state, and regional parks are within a half an hour drive from Sun Devil Stadium.
Nearby
The Greater Metropolitan Phoenix Area divides RV resorts and RV parks within the city limits from the state, regional, and national parks which generally sit on the outskirts of the city. Tempe is located near the south end of the valley. There are several RV parks near Tempe with full amenity hookups, and a few of the RV parks are within walking distance of the Valley Metro, making it easy to take public transportation to the game.
If you don't mind a bit of a drive to stay in a desert campground, Lost Dutchman State Park will provide you with campground views of saguaro and a colorful Superstition Mountains backdrop. Another desert landscape park, but with more resort-style amenities is the Mesa /Apache Junction KOA.
RVers who want to explore more of Arizona after the football game should head south and visit Saguaro National Park, a must-see national park in Southern Arizona.
Getting around
Football fans should anticipate walking to and from the tailgating areas to get to the stadium. Sun Devil Stadium doesn't permit any form of transportation other than walking in the parking lots or on the streets surrounding the stadium. Football fans requiring ADA assistance should inquire about courtesy cart service, a service that takes fans from the ADA parking lot to the venue.
What to pack
Clothing
Sun Devil Stadium is an outdoor stadium, and since Arizona has mild temperatures during the winter, football fans won't need layers of clothing to stay warm. During winter games, a light jacket or hoodie should keep you comfortable. For games early in the season, the weather can be hot for day games. Short sleeve shirts, tank tops, and shorts are best for the hotter games of the year.
Gear
When you are packing for the football game, don't forget to bring your Sun Devil gear. Sun Devil Stadium glistens with gold on game days. For most games, ASU fans wear gold, but during certain games, Sun Devil fans should wear maroon or black depending on the opposing team's colors. What fun is a tailgate if you can't share your home-team spirit? Don't forget to bring your folding chairs and ASU flags. If you decorate your tailgate with Sparky spirit, make sure you stash your gear before the game because Sun Devil Stadium prohibits pitchforks at the game. Sun Devil fans should practice their best finger-pitchforks to fit in with the other Sun Devil fans.
Health & Safety
As the stadium name suggests, the Sun Devils often play their home games in hot weather. While Zonies might be accustomed to the hot weather, out of town visitors might need time acclimating to the dry heat. Come prepared for hot weather by packing sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses. Even when the weather isn't over 100 degrees, it's still possible to become dehydrated, so pack a refillable water bottle and plenty of electrolyte packs to replenish any of the vitamins and minerals you sweat out.
Where to eat
Cooking
Arizona's desert atmosphere doesn't like fire. Tailgaters are permitted to use propane stoves or grills, but all stoves and grills must adhere to the parking lot tailgating policies for grilling. Traditional football fare is part of any tailgate, but if you want to serve up a seven-layer bean dip, or grill up seasoned pork carnitas for street tacos, no one will second guess that you might not be from Arizona. Don't forget your chips and salsa! It's the perfect finger food to accompany your layered dip and street tacos.
Restaurants
Mill Avenue is a favorite hangout near ASU and Sun Devil Stadium. Mill Avenue, which crosses over Tempe Town Lake, has coffee shops, bars and grills, and restaurants offering local fare to more specialized tastes such as vegan, Italian, Ethiopian, or Mediterranean food. Since the City of Tempe is heavily populated, there are enough restaurants nearby to serve thousands. If the food you crave isn't within a radius of a few miles, you won't have to travel too far to get the food you desire.
Vendors
ASU football tailgating parties, including the private and public tailgates, are the hub for food and drinks before kickoff. After the kickoff, the party moves to the stadium where fans will find plenty of food, drinks, and merchandise for sale. Most vendors accept cash and charge, but if you find yourself in need of cash, no need to worry because the stadium has several ATMs onsite.
Safety
Security
Sun Devil security enforces the stadium's rules and regulations to ensure all football fans feel safe during every game. Before game day, visit the Sun Devil Stadium website for an up-to-date list of items permitted into the stadium. All stadium guests are subject to screening before entering the facility. Once you've been admitted into the game, find your seats, and enjoy the spirit, sportsmanship, and Sparky spirit of an ASU Sun Devil home game. If you need to exit the stadium for any reason, re-entry isn't permitted, so plan on staying the whole game.
Weather
Football fans, rejoice! Attending a football game at Sun Devil Stadium is usually a comfortable experience. The Phoenix area, nicknamed the Valley of the Sun, averages 299 days of sun each year, so fans generally don't have to worry about rain ruining their tailgate. While it does rain once in a while, for most games, you can expect warm weather and sunny skies. Regular football season runs from August through December, with specialty games and bowl games usually ending in January. Average high temperatures between August to January average between 83 to 105 degrees with average lows ranging between 43 to 68 degrees.
Medical
Hopefully, your trip to Arizona will be free from illness or injury. Since no one plans to get sick on vacation, it's nice to know there is medical care nearby if you need it. Tempe is part of a large metropolitan area with world-renowned health care. If you get sick and need a pharmacy or a hospital, the closest facilities are less than two miles from Sun Devil Stadium. If you need first-aid or emergency care during the game, visit one of the stadium's first-aid stations.
