Sun Devil Fan Fest brings fans onto the field for a big day of fun

Sun Devil Fan Fest through a parent’s eyes
For Sophia Freeman, who came to Fan Fest with three of her 7- and 8-year-old children, the day was about more than just entertainment. Her kids were especially excited to run out of the Tillman Tunnel with Sun Devil legend Jake Plummer, but the experience also carried a deeper meaning.

“We had to make sure they knew who Pat Tillman was,” Freeman said. “They already knew quite a bit, but I was happy to teach them some of that history.”

The day also offered a glimpse into the future. Freeman’s oldest son will begin tackle football this year, while her younger children attended the free cheer clinic to get an idea of how to support him during the season.

“They were so excited,” she said. “This is kind of getting them ready for that, and hopefully they’ll go to school here one day too.”

For Freeman, the value of the event goes beyond outcomes.

As a parent, she’s less focused on results and more on exposure and giving her children the chance to explore their interests, share in family traditions and imagine what could come next. The experience, she said, gave them something tangible to dream about.

Student-athletes connect with fans
For Sun Devil student-athletes, Fan Fest offered a chance to reflect on their journeys while connecting with fans on a more personal level and giving back to their community.

For Sun Devil Basketball’s Allen Mukeba, a graduate student from Charleroi, Belgium, that human connection matters deeply to him, especially in a world where athletes are often reduced to stats and highlights.

“It’s great because it’s an opportunity for the fans to meet us and know us more personally than just being a student-athlete,” Mukeba said. “It’s important to know that you’re not just a player, you’re a person just like everybody else.”

A native of Charleroi, Belgium, Mukeba also feels that sharing his story helps break down assumptions often attached to student-athletes.

“I’m just a little kid from Belgium who came here to make my dream come true,” he said. “When people see me on TV, they might think I’m big, so I might be mean or something, but I’m not. I’m really like a teddy bear. I’m just trying to follow my journey.”

Welcome to the Sun Devil family
While Mukeba is at the end of his college career, freshman Marques Uini is just beginning his.

For his family, father Sean and little brother Mason, Fan Fest felt like a welcome party. His younger brother, Mason, smiled throughout the day while participating in the wrestling showcase with coach Zeke Jones’ team, while Uini filmed the whole thing with an even bigger grin. 

“Everybody’s so welcoming,” said Uini. “We’ve been through this before at Georgia, but being here is totally different. It’s really tight. Like Dilly says, it’s a family thing here, and I love that. Everything has been awesome so far, and this is a great event for our first time at the stadium.”

Building one Sun Devil community
Fan Fest highlighted the full scope of Sun Devil Athletics, bringing together all 26 Division I teams, from football and basketball to hockey, wrestling, soccer, baseball and softball.

But that sense of unity extends beyond a single day.

“I feel like everywhere else, everybody sticks to their own sport,” said McKinna Brackens, a junior on the women’s basketball team. But here, when you see other teams coming to support you, we all branch out and get closer. We’ve become really good friends with the volleyball team for example.”

That cross-team support helps build a unique energy across Sun Devil Athletics, one that players say carries into competition.

And Brackens believes fans should take notice.

“Fans should be excited because every team is trying to build. We’re all going to do bigger and better things," she said. “Next season, everybody should be coming to all of the games.”