For 30 days in November, there will almost always be a Sun Devil event happening somewhere in Tempe.
Sun Devil Athletics is scheduled to host 30+ home events during the month, beginning with volleyball against Houston on Nov. 1 and concluding with men’s basketball hosting Montana on Nov. 30.
For Sun Devil coaches, student-athletes and staff, that means a packed calendar. For the city of Tempe, it means something bigger, as each event brings visiting teams and their fans and families into the city. They fill hotel rooms, eat at restaurants, shop, and spend time throughout the community, boosting the local economy.
When the Sun Devils play, visitors follow
When Sun Devil Athletics is busy, Tempe notices.
“Sun Devil Athletics in general definitely impacts us on a positive level,” Tempe Tourism President and CEO Michael Martin said.
Even though specific numbers aren't available, Martin said Sun Devil events often help explain year-to-year fluctuations in hotel occupancy. He noted that a Sun Devil Football game at Mountain America Stadium can create a spike one year that disappears the next when ASU is on the road.
"A really good example of a big game that would have a positive impact on room nights is when we play Arizona. The next year, when the game is in Tucson, we won't see that same impact."
The size and location of the visiting school's fan base matter, too, as does how easily its fans can travel to Arizona.
"Anytime we host a team from Texas, that's going to be a strong showing," he said.
"Think about these things in terms of the size of the school, the large population of students, and that means they're going to have a very large alumni base. Then, when you think about ease of access and the number of flights, the nonstop flights, or if you can drive. Those are all big factors."
Not just ball
Football has the most obvious impact on Tempe tourism because of the size of Mountain America Stadium, its capacity is around 53,000, but it isn’t the only team that brings in a wealth of visitors.
Sun Devil Hockey is another sport with growing tourism potential.
"The nice thing about hockey is that they have a high volume of games, which allows more opportunity for people to come out," Martin said.
"A lot of these teams might be coming from colder weather, so a lot will go see the game, but also make a vacation out of it, if you will. The weather is a draw for the typical hockey fan, so we are starting to see that being a stronger market, even though the stadium only holds up to 5000 people."
Like Mountain America Stadium, Mullett Arena brings its own air of magic to the city.
“Mullett is kind of one of those venues that we’re so excited is here in Tempe,” Martin said. “It brings us a different flavor.”
Multiply that effect across a month that includes events at Mullett Arena, Desert Financial Arena, Mountain America Stadium, Tempe Town Lake and other Sun Devil venues, and November becomes a showcase of the broader relationship between Arizona State and its home city.
Thirty-plus events in 30 days
With 30-plus Sun Devil home events spread across 30 days, opportunities to visit Tempe won't be limited to a few Saturdays at Mountain America Stadium. They'll extend to Mullett Arena, the newly renovated Desert Financial Arena, Alberta B. Farrington Stadium and the Whiteman Tennis Center.
In other words, November means there will almost always be somewhere to go and a team to cheer for. For Tempe businesses, it means a steady stream of potential customers arriving throughout the month.
Here's a quick glimpse at the November calendar and what fans can expect.
Sun Devil Football with a pair of Rose Bowl celebrations
Sun Devil Football's two November home games will also bring generations of former Sun Devils back to Tempe. The program will welcome members of the 1996 team back for a 30th reunion during the Nov. 7 Colorado weekend before celebrating the 1987 Rose Bowl champions when we host Oklahoma State on Nov. 21.
Dave Hakstol’s debut at Mullett Arena
Welcome to the Dave Hakstol era of Sun Devil Hockey. The new head coach makes his Mullett Arena debut on Friday, Nov. 6, against Denver, and concludes the series on Sunday, Nov. 8, due to football's Nov. 7 game vs. Colorado. The team also welcomes Alaska Anchorage on Friday, Nov. 27 and Saturday, Nov. 28, for another home series to close out the month.
Twenty-three is the magic number
Sun Devil Basketball will host 22 nonconference games this year, with the women hosting 12 and the men hosting 10, over about a 50-day span starting Nov. 2.
Back-to-back Big 12 champions hosting four matches
The 2025 Big 12 Champion Sun Devil Volleyball squad hosts Houston (Sunday, Nov. 1), Utah (Sunday, Nov. 8), Kansas State (Wednesday, Nov. 25) and the final regular-season event of the season on Friday, Nov. 27, vs. Kansas.
Eight is great for Women’s Basketball
Molly Miller’s squad will play eight home games in 22 days, starting with Jackson State on Monday, Nov. 2, and concluding with Wake Forest on Sunday, No. 29. Thanksgiving weekend will also bring Quinnipiac, Wake Forest and CSU Bakersfield to town for the Briann January Classic.
- vs. Jackson State on Monday, Nov. 2
- vs. Northern Arizona on Thursday, Nov. 5
- vs. Penn State on Sunday, Nov. 15
- vs. San Diego on Tuesday, Nov. 17
- vs. Santa Clara on Friday, Nov. 20, at Mullett Arena
- vs. San Jose State on Tuesday, Nov. 24
- vs. CSU Bakersfield on Saturday, Nov. 28
- vs. Wake Forest on Sunday, Nov. 29
Randy Bennett’s Sun Devil debut
Fans will have half a dozen chances to see the new era of Sun Devil Men’s Basketball up close and personal. Randy Bennett’s first month will see his team play six home games, beginning on Nov. 2 with East Tennessee State (the women will play first), and concluding with Montana on Nov. 30.
- vs. East Tennessee State on Monday, Nov. 2
- vs. Northern Colorado on Friday, Nov. 6
- vs. Hofstra on Tuesday, Nov. 10
- vs. ULM on Friday, Nov. 13
- vs. Oakland on Wednesday, Nov. 18
- vs. Montana on Monday, Nov. 30
Six-time national champs want to make it seven
Celebrating its 10-year anniversary, Sun Devil Triathlon will, for the eighth time, host the National Championships at Tempe Town Lake on Sunday, Nov. 8. Coach Cliff English’s team is no stranger to this event. They will be in pursuit of their seventh national crown.
A dual duo for Sun Devil Wrestling
Sun Devil Wrestling hits the mat with the Sun Devil Invitational to kick off the season on Saturday, Nov. 14, at Desert Financial Arena, then hosts Oklahoma State on Friday, Nov. 20.
Reigning Big 12 Champs back on the dirt
Sun Devil Softball will take to the mound at Farrington Stadium on Thursday, Nov. 5, for the Maroon and Gold game at 6 p.m. MST. It'll be the final opportunity for fans to catch a glimpse of what's to come for Head Coach Megan Bartlett’s 2027 program before the regular season begins in February 2027.
Women's Tennis wrapping up Thunderbird Invitational
Jamea Jackson’s squad will be playing its final day of action of the Thunderbird Invitational at Whiteman Tennis Center, offering the first glimpse of the 2026-27 squad ahead of the spring season, coming off a year when they won a share of the regular-season Big 12 Championship.
A month full of reasons to come to campus
For Tempe Tourism, that connection between Sun Devil Athletics and the city is easy to see.
And in November, it will be on display almost every day.
From the first serve on Nov. 1 to the final buzzer on Nov. 30, Sun Devil Athletics will give fans plenty of reasons to come to Tempe, and plenty of reasons to stay awhile.
Thirty days. More than 30 home events and one very busy month for the Sun Devils and their hometown.