Arizona State University fans, alumni and travelling Morgan State supporters gathered in Tempe on Saturday to mark the start of the college football season, using a pre-match tailgate to build a shared sense of community before the teams met at Mountain America Stadium.
The event took place near College Avenue and Sixth Street ahead of the 7pm kick-off between the Arizona State Sun Devils and Morgan State Bears. It formed part of ASU’s official Sparky’s Touchdown Tailgate, a free, family-friendly celebration for supporters. ([asuevents.asu.edu](https://asuevents.asu.edu/event/sparkys-touchdown-tailgate-asu-vs-morgan-state))
Fans were able to enjoy food trucks, a beer garden, children’s activities, games and live entertainment before making their way to the stadium. The university had encouraged supporters to wear gold for the home opener. ([asuevents.asu.edu](https://asuevents.asu.edu/event/sparkys-touchdown-tailgate-asu-vs-morgan-state))
The gathering also brought together Morgan State supporters who had travelled from Maryland, adding the Bears’ colours and traditions to the pre-game atmosphere in downtown Tempe.
Saturday’s fixture was the first meeting between Arizona State and Morgan State. The Sun Devils’ match against the Bears marked the opening home game of ASU’s 2026 season. ([thesundevils.com](https://thesundevils.com/news/2026/09/04/know-before-you-go-sun-devil-football-opens-2026-season-vs-morgan-state))
