City: Tempe, AZ

Category: Spectator Sports

Telephone: (480) 965-2381

Address: 500 E. Veterans Way

Description: When the Sun Devils football team made its 1996 run to the Rose Bowl, it captivated the Valley, often outdrawing the NFL’s Cardinals in the same stadium each fall weekend. Average home-game attendance was 63,884 that year.The university’s athletics programs have been an important part of Valley sports since their inception. As is the case with most sports programs, the men’s teams—football, basketball, and baseball—have the highest profile. However, there is a strong following for the women’s basketball and softball teams.ASU has competed in the Pacific 10 Conference in 20 varsity sports and has won 129 national championships, including 11 in women’s golf and 5 in baseball. Former Sun Devils include “Mr. October” Reggie Jackson, infamous home run king Barry Bonds, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Danny White, and golfer Phil Mickelson. But perhaps the most adored of all Sun Devils is Pat Tillman, the local boy who fought his way through the NCAA and later the NFL with his hometown Cardinals before quitting football to join the Army. He was killed in a firefight in 2004 in Afghanistan while serving in the elite Army Rangers.Football far and away is the dominant sport in terms of fan support and can fill many of Sun Devil Stadium’s 73,379 seats. The team has seen some high rankings in recent years, though the product on the field hasn’t met expectations. The annual game with archrival University of Arizona, known as the Territorial Cup, is one of the most spirited and competitive events in college football.Men’s and women’s basketball teams play at Wells Fargo Arena, a 14,198-seat facility that was built in 1974 at a cost of $8 million. Baseball players try to knock it out of the park at Packard Stadium, a 7,875-capacity ballpark built in 1974. A left-handed hitter can slug a home run beyond the right field wall into oncoming traffic on Rural Road. Softball pitchers do their windmill windup at Farrington Stadium, a 1,500-seat field. Track and field events take place at the Sun Angel Stadium/Joe Selleh Track, which has a 5,000-seat grandstand and movable bleachers that can accommodate another 4,000 for big events such as the annual Sun Angel Track Classic. There’s an aquatic center for the swimming teams, and ASU Karsten Golf Course gives the golf teams dedicated space for practice. The Sun Devil Ticket Office has information on all sports tickets at ASU. Each of the venues is located within walking distance of Sun Devil Stadium.