Game Day in Downtown Tempe
Tag: Blog • Restaurants & Dining
Football is in the air - can you feel it? It's all over Downtown Tempe. You can certainly see it - at Sun Devil Stadium, in the maroon and gold banners hanging and ASU flags flying from the downtown lamp posts. And you can hear it - in the roar of the crowds, the laughter at tailgates, the sound of the Sun Devil Marching Band getting ready for the halftime show.
Part of the fun of game day is getting to downtown before the game to enjoy all the game day experiences that Downtown Tempe has to offer.
Sparky's Touchdown Tailgate is located on College Avenue between 6th and 7th Streets and is hosted by the ASU Alumni Association three hours before kickoff on home game days. Enjoy live entertainment, a beer garden and family fun. Admission is free, food & drink available for purchase.
If tailgating isn't your scene, try tablegating (definition: to go to a restaurant such as Rusty Taco to watch a sporting event)! Downtown Tempe has a treasure trove of different restaurants for you to go enjoy the game and most of them have open-air patios for you enjoy the amazing football season weather. Not only do all these places have scrumptious food and endless drink options, most may have some specials to help kick off this football season.
Before you hit the eating & drinking tablegating experience, you'll want to dress the part. Downtown Tempe also has several places for you to load up on ASU gear before you make your way to one of our restaurants to watch the game.
Cactus Sports
Located just south of 5th Street on Mill Avenue, Cactus Sports has a sea of maroon and gold in their jam-packed store of all things ASU. You can get shirts, key chains, masks, sweaters, and vintage, old school ASU merchandise. It's a great place to get your clear bag for the game (see ASU Bag Policy). Take a trip and explore the shop for your own ASU treasures.
Sun Devil Marketplace
Located on the corner of 7th Street and College Avenue, this one-stop-shop has some unique ASU-themed items that will be sure highlight your support for the home team. They offer an excellent selection of ASU apparel for the whole family as well as hats and water bottles.
Fan Outfitters - New to Downtown! 740 S. Mill Ave.
Here you’ll find everything from super trendy t-shirts and logoed polos to tailgating essentials and home/office decor. The superpower here is undoubtedly the embroidery capabilities, which ready to add a customized touch to any hat or apparel item.
Game Day Venues (“P” means Patio)
Pedal Haus Brewery (P)
Pedal Haus is the official ASU Game Watch Party Headquarters featuring food & drink specials, giveaways and appearances by the Spirit Squad, Sparky & more.
BONUS: Pedal Haus is the home of the You Wake, We Bake breakfast on Saturdays (and Sunday!) from 11 am - 2 pm, $16 will get you breakfast and a PH beer, mimosa or Bloody Mary - yum!
University Sports Grill (P)
Family owned & operated sports bar with great prices, the best wings, poutine to die for, great drinks and friendly staff. Come down the the "U" if you know you want a great game day!
Snakes & Lattes (P)
Featuring three patios, two with full shade and TV's with games on, Snakes & Lattes is the go-to place for coffee drinks, alcoholic drinks and terrific food (Loaded Poutine anyone?). You'll also find over 900 board games to play, well... while the big game is on!
Alibi (Rooftop bar at Canopy by Hilton) (P)
Game Day Special: Enjoy the cool morning weather at Canopy’s rooftop bar while indulging in great snack & drink pricing all day and night!
Skysill Rooftop Lounge (P)
Skysill Lounge at the Westin Hotel is the highest rooftop bar in the Valley.
Loco Patron Mexican Grill (P)
Zipp's Sports Grill (P)
ASU games with sound on AND their regular Weekend Hangover Happy Hour on Saturdays from 11 am - 4 pm. How can you lose?
Rusty Taco (P)
Grab a seat on their patio and enjoy fresh tacos and ice-cold pitcher margaritas! Rusty Taco is steps away from the action located a street over from ASU campus, tailgates, and the stadium.
Fat Tuesday (P)
C.A.S.A (P)
Buckets o'fun on game days, CASA is home to Devil's Disco with a live DJ, big screen-game watching parties on 6th Street.
Sunbar (P)
Illegal Pete’s (P)
Game Day Happy Hour specials, tacos, burritos and bowls plus great patio vibes, you can't beat Illegal Pete's on game days!
The Handlebar Tempe (P)
Varsity Tavern (P)
In addition to great people watching from their 2nd story patios at 5th & Mill, Varsity Tavern shows games on with sound, a special ASU Game Day menu and 10% off your bill after the game when you show your ticket stub.
Alter Ego (at Canopy by Hilton) (P)
While chilling on their patio or indoor lounge, enjoy game day specials for ASU home games or an incredible weekend brunch.
Anoche Cantina (P)
Anoche is a modern cantina and entertainment venue with a Latin-inspired food and beverage program, located on Tempe’s thriving Mill Ave. Savor vibrant dishes and sip creative cocktails in an alluring restaurant atmosphere, served daily through lunch and dinner, plus a dynamic weekend brunch featuring breakfast classics and bottomless mimosas.
Tacos Calafia (P)
414 Pub & Pizza (P)
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop (P)
Detroit Coney Grill (P)
Head over to ASU's website for this season's football schedule.
See you all in #DowntownTempe! Tag us or use the hashtag to share your best game day moments! We'll keep our eye out on our Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter.
Forks up!!
