What to know about ASU football’s Fan Fest this Friday in place of a spring game

ASU football has completely pivoted away from a traditional spring game, electing instead to hold a Fan Fest on Friday to mark the end of spring camp.

It’s a move many teams have taken, including fellow 2025 playoff teams Ohio State and Texas, some of whom cited the more rigorous calendar for teams making the playoff and advancing to extra games.

In-state rival Arizona also did not hold a spring game, instead doing a “spring showcase” on Saturday that included a practice, an egg hunt for fans with the event falling on Easter weekend and more.

So, from a football standpoint, what does head coach Kenny Dillingham envision for the ASU event?

“It’s gonna be very similar to last year, probably not quite as much of the scrimmage setting,” Dillingham said on Friday. “A little bit of today and then a little bit of drills mixed in there. So hopefully guys going around, playing hard and (have) a lot of fun.”

Friday’s practice that the head coach referred to did include a large amount of scrimmaging, so fans should expect at least some level of it. It just won’t be to the level of a normal spring game.

When is ASU football’s Fan Fest?

Fan zones surrounding the stadium open at 4 p.m. on Friday, with the gates to Mountain America Stadium opening at 5. Attendance and parking (available in the north lot) are free, and seats can be reserved ahead of time.

Offerings within the fan zones include inflatables for kids, photo stations with the Big 12 Championship trophy and the Territorial Cup, cornhole and much more. Concessions, including the HUSS Brewing Devil’s Halo craft beer benefitting ASU NIL efforts, and merchandise will be on hand.

The football activities will get started at 6 p.m. and last about an hour-and-a-half.

The first 500 fans will receive specially made Coca-Cola glass bottles commemorating Arizona State’s Big 12 Championship with more available for sale at a later date.

More details for the event, which will end with a fireworks show, are available online.

What’s the future of spring games at ASU?

In the future, Dillingham said he could see the return of a spring game if something can be worked out in NCAA rules to allow them to play other schools. He pointed to potentially facing a legacy Pac-12 school and making it an annual tradition.

Colorado and Syracuse expressed a desire to make something similar happen between the two this spring, but the NCAA denied the request.

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