Sun Devil Homecoming hits streets of Tempe Oct. 27

Arizona State University is proudly gearing up for the annual Homecoming celebration set to take place on Oct. 27.

Sun Devil Homecoming: A Golden Decade will showcase the innovation and entrepreneurship that has taken place over the course of 10 years, in part due to ASU President Michael Crow’s extraordinary vision of higher education.

“Homecoming is a fantastic celebration. In ASU style, not only is the entire ASU community, which includes faculty, staff, students and alumni, invited, but we include the community at large,” said Virgil Renzulli, ASU’s vice president of public affairs.

To kick off the weekend, the ASU Alumni Association, in partnership with the Sun Devil Club, will honor nearly 200 alums who have played professional football on Friday, Oct. 26, at the “Legends Luncheon: Celebrating the NFL” event. ASU’s “honor roll” of former NFL players includes Jake Plummer, Mike Haynes, Ron Pritchard, Juan Roque, Danny White and J.D. Hill, all of whom are scheduled to attend the luncheon. The event will start at 11:30 a.m., at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel.

On Oct. 27 the annual Homecoming Parade will make its way down the streets of Tempe four hours prior to kickoff at the Homecoming football game. The fun will begin at McAllister Avenue and University Drive and continue on University to College Avenue.

This year’s grand marshal is Crow, a fitting honor as the weekend is focused on his accomplishments and fellow university staff members. The president’s leadership team will accompany him in the parade.

The Homecoming block party will begin immediately after the parade. Attendees will be treated to more than 100 family-friendly booths and interactive displays. The Kidz Zone will feature several bounce houses, stage performers, Club ASU activities and more. Student athletes will be signing autographs for fans at the block party as well.

The day will lead up to the ASU vs. UCLA football game in Sun Devil Stadium as Sparky and fans cheer the team on to victory. The official game time will be announced on Oct. 15. Tickets may be purchased in person or by calling the Sun Devil Ticket Office at 480-727-0000.

"Everyone knows how much I respect and honor heritage and tradition, so when it comes to Homecoming I really get excited," said head football coach Todd Graham. "Homecoming is a time for all alumni to return to campus, not only to observe the traditions of the university, but to relive their history with the school.

“I'm all about honoring the past and those who came before us in this great game of football. Alumni can do the same with their university during Homecoming, all wrapped around the color and pageantry of a college football game. It doesn't get any better than that.”

Parking lots and structures in the northern portion of campus (north of University Drive) are open five hours prior to kickoff for prepaid season ticket parking passes, and cash lots are open three hours before kickoff. For more information on parking, visit http://cfo.asu.edu/pts-event-football or http://www.millavenue.com/transportation.

For details and a complete schedule of Homecoming events and activities, visit http://homecoming.asu.edu.