Charlie Kirk’s funeral and memorial service expected to draw nearly 100,000 people to Arizona: Live updates – UK Times

Turning Point USA has warned those wanting to attend Sunday’s memorial service at State Farm Stadium that “enhanced security measures are in place, which may result in longer wait times than usual.”

“We appreciate your patience and understanding,” the group says on its website.

The event will be on a first-come, first-served basis based on stadium capacity. Indoor overflow will be available next door at the Desert Diamond Arena.

With so many administration officials set to attend and speak, security is especially tight.

TP USA also advises that there will be a no bag policy in effect.

“Guests arriving with bags, even clear bags, will NOT be permitted entry. You will be required to return the bag to your vehicle and rejoin the line from the end.”

State Farm Stadium is a multipurpose, retractable roof stadium that can accommodate up to 73,000 people for its largest events. It’s located in Glendale, a suburb just west of Phoenix.

Its most recognizable tenant is the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, and the franchise has played at the facility since it opened in 2006. The Cardinals do not own the stadium and confirmed through spokesman Mark Dalton that the team was not involved in booking Kirk’s memorial service.

College football’s Fiesta Bowl is also held each year at the stadium.

The facility is owned by the Arizona Sports & Tourism Authority and operated by ASM Global, which manages events. AZSTA spokeswoman Kristen Pflipsen stated in an email that the Kirk memorial is a “paid, private, contracted event. As with all private events, we do not release specific contract details.”

The stadium is the largest facility in the Phoenix metropolitan area and also features air conditioning, which is especially useful in the Sonoran Desert where temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius), even in late September.

The Cardinals will not be in Glendale on Sunday; instead, they will play in California against the San Francisco 49ers. That leaves the stadium available for rental on short notice.

State Farm Stadium is no stranger to major events, hosting three Super Bowls, including the most recent in 2023 when the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35.

The facility also hosted the NCAA men’s basketball Final Four in 2017 and 2024, along with two soccer matches in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in June.

The stadium has also hosted many non-sporting events over the years, including concerts by the Rolling Stones, U2, One Direction, Metallica, Taylor Swift, Beyonce, and Morgan Wallen. There are also smaller events like trade shows, corporate functions, and weddings. The State Farm Stadium website states it is booked approximately 120 times per year.

With reporting from the AP

The memorial for conservative icon Charlie Kirk will be held on Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the home of Turning Point USA, his organization, and a short distance from his home in Scottsdale.

Kirk, 31, was a close confidant of President Donald Trump, who will attend the service and speak. So will a number of senior administration officials.

The conservative activist was fatally shot on September 10 while speaking with students at an open-air event at Utah Valley University.

Tyler Robinson, 22, has been charged with aggravated murder and other crimes related to the shooting.