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  • Greg Venuto

Mountain America Stadium - Arizona State Sun Devils


Photos by Eric Moreno and Greg Venuto, Stadium Journey


Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71

Mountain America Stadium 500 E Veterans Way Tempe, AZ 85281

Year Opened: 1958 Capacity: 56,634

 

Sun Devil Stadium Tucked Away in Hayden Butte


Editor's Note: In August, 2023, ASU announced changing the stadium name from Sun Devil Stadium to Mountain America Stadium after signing a multi-year naming rights contract with that credit union.

The stadium, despite being built in 1958, has a modern feel due to a five-year, $304-million renovation that was completed in August 2019. The renovations were completed in five phases and included sections of the upper deck removed, a new structure built behind the south end zone, the east and west side of the lower bowl and loge level rebuilt, installation of a new video board, and the completion of club areas.

It has hosted the Fiesta Bowl, the Cactus Bowl, and the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals from 1988 to 2005. The highlight came in 1996 as the stadium hosted Super Bowl XXX which featured the Dallas Cowboys over the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27–17 in front of 76,347 spectators.

Food & Beverage 4

Sun Devil Stadium offers a wide variety of food options from the Super Dog for $7, Double Burger with fries for $13, and beer and wine for $10. There are also kiosks on the main level offering Venezia’s Pizza ($17 for a 12’’ cheese pie), Authentic Burros ($10-$12), Kona Shaved Ice, Windy City Kettle Corn and, of course, Chick-fil-A stands.

Souvenir soda (Coca-Cola) is $7.50, Frozen Lemonade is $7 and Dasani Water is $4.50.

Atmosphere 4

The entrance to the stadium is impressive as spectators scale steps to enter. Getting into the stadium is facilitated by rapid metal detectors and then mobile tickets are easily scanned at kiosks which keep flashing green as fans poured in.

The pre-game lead up to opening kickoff is stunning as the lights are turned off and Sparky, the legendary mascot, is seen on the huge scoreboards stomping his way through Phoenix, across the desert, and into Tempe where he crushes a bus emblazoned with the emblem of the team ASU is playing with his foot and then spikes his pitchfork into the ground. Then the Sun Devils come charging onto the field as fireworks and pyrotechnics fill the sky and the crowd erupts.

While the view of the field is excellent, most of the seating is metal benches with backs. There are chairback seats on the ASU sideline in the lower bowl, the 200 sections, and on the visitor’s side between the 25-yard lines. Heat can be an issue for games through early November. ASU plays mostly night games but it can remain warm into the evening. Remember to bring sunblock for day games and water for all outings.

FYI, the following bags ARE allowed inside Sun Devil Stadium: Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC and do not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12″, One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar), small clutch bags (no larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″) with or without a handle or strap, seat cushion & seat cushion with a back (no pockets, 18″ or less in width).


Neighborhood 3

Tempe, which continues to grow each year, is the quintessential college town and offers a number of bars and restaurants within walking distance. Many fans pre-game on Mill Avenue and Sunbar, Fat Tuesday, Varsity Tavern and Pedal Haus are a few favorites. If you are looking for a burger there is always Chuckbox and, while not within walking distance, In-n-Out is always a popular hangout.

When it comes to attractions, Tempe is just a short drive from Phoenix where there are tons of options. The Phoenix Zoo, Papago Park and Tempe Marketplace, an open-air shopping center, are all readily available options.

In terms of hotels, there are quite a few within proximity of Sun Devil Stadium. Right near the stadium are the AC Marriott on Rio Salado Parkway, Graduate Tempe on East Apache, and the new Hyatt House on East 6th Street.

Fans 3

The Arizona State Sun Devils tend to have a strong fan base. The combination of the desert heat and enthusiastic crowd make Sun Devil Stadium an inhospitable place for visitors. ASU has a 15-4 home record over the past three full seasons. The students sing the fight song, shake their keys during kickoffs and throw up their pitchfork hand gestures (Fork’s Up) on 3rd down.

The tailgate scene is especially impressive and stretches for several blocks as you make your way to Sun Devil Stadium.

The only knock is that a decent number of fans depart at halftime and into the 3rd quarter. Only one game has sold out this year against USC. Seats are usually available for most games especially the early season when the weather is still hot.

Access 5

The venue is not especially difficult to get to as the stadium is just off University Drive, which you can get to from Highway 202. It is also close to the 10 and the 101. Once you get to the stadium, there is plenty of parking. There is a massive parking structure for season ticket holders which is filled with tailgaters before the game. In addition, there are also lots further away from Sun Devil Stadium where parking is $20-$30 depending on the location. One recommendation is an app called ParkWhiz where I found parking for $10.50 in a garage on W. 5th Street – a 10-minute walk to the stadium.


Return on Investment 3

Tickets to football games at Sun Devil Stadium range from $15 to $350 per person depending on the section you sit in. Individual game tickets are divided into Maroon, Copper, and Gold. Maroon is versus non-league opponents. The Gold games are premier matchups including Arizona, USC, or UCLA. The increase in price from Copper to Gold is anywhere from $20 to $125 per ticket. The best way to buy individual game tickets is on sundevils.com to save some of the added fees.

Concessions costs are about average and parking prices are typical compared with other power five conference stadiums.

Extras 4

One extra not to be missed is the statue of the late great Pat Tillman. Erected in honor of the former Sun Devil who lost his life serving in the U.S. Army, Tillman’s legacy has had a lasting impact on the ASU program. Fans can view the statue in its location underneath the north end zone scoreboard, near the player’s tunnel.

Another added benefit is to Hike A Mountain (Hayden Butte) while you are in town and enjoy spectacular views of Tempe, the ASU campus, Salt River, and Phoenix. You can see part of the stadium from the top of the mountain.

Final Thoughts

Sun Devil Stadium is a majestic venue and a great place to watch college football…from the opening fireworks to the band playing and the large dynamic scoreboards.




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