Sun Devil Athletics

What Sun Devil Athletics does

Sun Devil Athletics is the official athletics department of Arizona State University, a public state institution based in Tempe, Arizona. The department operates 26 NCAA Division I men's and women's sports programs — one of the largest portfolios in the Big 12 Conference, which it joined in 2023 — spanning football, basketball, baseball, ice hockey, soccer, softball, volleyball, wrestling, gymnastics, swimming and diving, tennis, golf, track and field, lacrosse, beach volleyball, water polo, triathlon, and cross country. Its operations are supported by more than 20 dedicated facilities, including Mountain America Stadium, Desert Financial Arena, Mullett Arena, the Weatherup Center, the Verde Dickey Dome, and the Carson Student-Athlete Center, all located primarily in Tempe with baseball operations extending to Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

The department's digital ecosystem centers on sundevils.com, the Sun Devil Gameday mobile app (iOS/Android), and the Sun Devil Radio Network — an Arizona-wide affiliate broadcast system covering football, basketball, baseball, and hockey with the Arizona Sports 98.7 FM flagship, additional Arizona affiliates, Arizona Sports App streaming, and Sirius XM satellite distribution. Ticketing is operated through a Ticketmaster integration supporting single-game, season, group, and premium seating sales; merchandise is fulfilled via Bkstr.com (the official Sun Devil Campus Stores); and a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) program is operated through the Sun Angel Collective. Donor and fan engagement is structured around the Sun Devil Club (membership giving), Junior Sun Devil Club (youth), and Sun Devil Nation (broader fan community).

Revenue is generated across five streams: ticket sales, merchandise and licensing, donations and NIL contributions, corporate partnerships (managed via a dedicated Corporate Partnerships department), and broadcasting/media rights. Go-to-market is event-driven (game day attendance and major events such as the 2026 Union Jack Classic at Wembley Stadium in London), community-led (donor programs, sports camps, mascot appearances), and direct-to-consumer (digital ticketing, streaming, e-commerce). Pricing is segmented by sport, venue, and seating tier, with annual subscription cadence for season tickets and Sun Devil Club memberships, and pay-as-you-go for single-game and group tickets. The department is led by Athletic Director Graham Rossini with a senior team including Deputy AD/COO Lisa Young and senior associate ADs across operations, partnerships, media, compliance, and student-athlete development.

Name

Sun Devil Athletics

Legal name

Sun Devil Athletics - Arizona State University

Website

https://thesundevils.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1899

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Sun Devil Athletics is the NCAA Division I athletics department of Arizona State University, operating 26 sports in the Big 12 Conference from Tempe, Arizona. It generates revenue through tickets, merchandise, donations, NIL programs, corporate partnerships, and media rights serving fans, students, alumni, and sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Collegiate Athletics Programs

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Spectator Sports (7112)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAKACAA

Collegiate Athletic Conferences & Associations

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Collegiate & Amateur Sports Organizations (NCAA, Federations, Clubs)

SECONDARYMPAKAMAE

NIL Representation & Compliance Services (Student-Athletes)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Athlete Representation & Agency Services

SECONDARYMPAKAKAK

Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Sports Management & Promotion Services

Keywords

• Collegiate athletics programs
• NCAA Division I sports
• Athletic ticketing services
• Sports broadcasting network
• Fan engagement merchandise

Headquarters

HQ city

Tempe

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from single game tickets, season tickets, group tickets, mini-plans, and premium seating across 26 sports programs. Ticketing powered through Ticketmaster integration.
2. Merchandise and Licensing: Sales of official Sun Devil Athletics merchandise including apparel, gear, jerseys, and memorabilia through the official team shop at Bkstr.com.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Donations through the Sun Devil Club, direct donations, and NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) contributions that support student-athletes and program development.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Brand partnerships with corporate sponsors including sponsorship activation, naming rights, and marketing collaborations through the Corporate Partnerships department.
5. Broadcasting and Media Rights: Revenue from radio broadcast rights, streaming content, and media coverage through the Sun Devil Radio Network and Arizona Sports App.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Sun Devil Athletics operates the official athletics department of Arizona State University, fielding 26 NCAA Division I sports programs within the Big 12 Conference. The department sells tickets, merchandise, and broadcast content directly to fans, runs the Sun Devil Club donor/membership program, and supports student-athletes through the NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) Sun Angel Collective.

Product overview

Sun Devil Athletics operates as the official athletics department of Arizona State University, supporting 26 different sports teams and programs. The organization offers a digital ecosystem centered around its website (sundevils.com) and mobile Gameday App for fan engagement, complemented by a comprehensive radio broadcast network (Sun Devil Radio Network) and live streaming services via the Arizona Sports App. Key services include ticketing and event management through Ticketmaster integration, Name/Image/Likeness (NIL) programs for student-athletes, and the Sun Devil Club membership/donor program. The organization also hosts special events including the Union Jack Classic international football game at Wembley Stadium. The athletic department provides 20+ competitive sports facilities including Mountain America Stadium, Desert Financial Arena, and various specialized venues for sports ranging from baseball and basketball to swimming, tennis, and gymnastics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sun Devil Club: Donor and support club for Sun Devil student athletes
• Sun Devil Nation
• Sun Angel Collective
• Junior Sun Devil Club

Products and services

• Ticket Sales and Distribution

Quantifiable outcome

• 26 NCAA Division I teams and sports competing in Big 12 Conference
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Wembley StadiumflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Venue partner for the Union Jack Classic football game against Kansas Jayhawks scheduled for September 2026 at Wembley Stadium in London, marking the first regular-season college football game at the venue.
• Big 12 ConferencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSun Devil Athletics is a member of the Big 12 Conference, competing against other premier programs in conference play across all 26 sports. The conference provides scheduling, championships, and media rights opportunities.
• NCAAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSun Devil Athletics competes under NCAA Division I rules and participates in NCAA championships across all sports.
• TicketmastercoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial ticketing platform partner powering ticket sales, mobile ticketing, season tickets, and event management for all Sun Devil Athletics events.
• Bkstr.comcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial e-commerce partner operating the Sun Devil Campus Stores, offering official merchandise, apparel, jerseys, and fan gear.
• Arizona Sports 98.7 FMcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFlagship radio station for Sun Devil Football and Men's Basketball broadcasts, home of the Sun Devil Radio Network flagship.
• Arizona Sports AppcoreTechnology or IntegrationMobile streaming platform partner providing free game day streaming for Sun Devil Football and Men's Basketball through the Arizona Sports App.
• Sirius XMminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSatellite radio partner broadcasting Sun Devil Football, Basketball, and Baseball games nationally through Sirius XM platform.
• MPSF (Midwest Professional Sports Federation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConference affiliation for certain sports programs within Sun Devil Athletics.
• NCHC (National Collegiate Hockey Conference)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConference affiliation for Sun Devil Ice Hockey program within the NCHC.
• Kansas JayhawksflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerConference opponent for the Union Jack Classic at Wembley Stadium in London, featuring two Big 12 football programs in a historic international matchup.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• USC Trojans Athletics: USC athletics department operating a multi-sport Power-conference (Big Ten) program in a major media market (Los Angeles). Comparable to Sun Devil Athletics in scale of fan base, NIL opportunity, and corporate-partnership revenue.
• Oregon Ducks Athletics: University of Oregon athletics department, a Power conference (Big Ten) program known for premium brand partnerships (Nike proximity), innovative uniforms, and a strong donor base. Comparable in the way it pairs athletic excellence with an institutional innovation/brand narrative.
• Ohio State Buckeyes Athletics: The Ohio State University Department of Athletics, a top-tier Big Ten program with one of the largest athletic department budgets in the NCAA. Closely comparable in operating scale, breadth of sports, donor/club structure, and revenue diversification.
• Tennessee Volunteers Athletics: University of Tennessee athletics, an SEC program with a major football brand, established donor club (Neyland), and comprehensive NIL infrastructure. Comparable in scale, brand-driven ticket demand, and conference economics.
• Alabama Crimson Tide Athletics: University of Alabama athletics, a dominant SEC football brand with strong donor culture and high-value ticketing. Comparable to Sun Devil Athletics in operating a major multi-sport department in a Power conference.
• Florida Gators Athletics: University of Florida athletics department, an SEC program operating 21+ varsity sports with broad NIL, donor, and broadcast operations. Comparable in NCAA Division I Power-conference economics and revenue-stream mix.
• LSU Tigers Athletics: Louisiana State University athletics, an SEC Power-conference program with strong football brand, premium seating, and a developed NIL/donor ecosystem. Comparable in scope and revenue model to Sun Devil Athletics.
• Texas Longhorns Athletics: Athletics department of the University of Texas, also a Big 12 member and one of the highest-revenue NCAA Division I programs. Operates a similarly broad portfolio of 18+ varsity sports with extensive ticketing, NIL, and media-rights operations, making it the most directly comparable peer in terms of conference footprint, scale, and revenue model.
• Michigan Wolverines Athletics: University of Michigan athletics, a Big Ten Power-conference program with a nationally recognized brand, premium ticketing inventory, and significant broadcasting/merchandise revenue. Directly comparable in scale and commercial sophistication.
• Notre Dame Fighting Irish Athletics: University of Notre Dame athletics, an independent/ACC program with one of the strongest national brands in college sports, premium ticketing, and NBC broadcasting heritage. Comparable in leveraging a premium national brand to drive ticketing, merchandise, and partnership revenue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheSunDevils
• YouTubeyoutube.com/thesundevils
• Facebookfacebook.com/ArizonaStateSunDevils
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sun-devil-athletics
• Instagraminstagram.com/sundevilathletics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sun Devil Athletics