The cost to hold a Charlie Kirk memorial at the state-owned State Farm Stadium in Arizona while keeping safe mourners, the president and other top officials is unknown.
Last week, conservative activist Kirk was shot and killed at an outdoor event in Utah. He co-founded Turning Point, which is based in the Valley.
The memorial event honoring conservative activist Charlie Kirk was held at State Farm Stadium on Sept. 21, 2025. See KJZZ's coverage from Glendale.
The event is set to be the largest public mourning since Sen. John McCain died.
The Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority owns the stadium in Glendale. An authority spokesperson says event contracts, done by a separate stadium manager, are confidential.
The managing firm, called Legends Global, did not reply to questions. Also silent is the Arizona Cardinals.
Charlie Kirk memorial at State Farm Stadium
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Inside State Farm Stadium in Glendale before the memorial service for Charlie Kirk in Sept. 21, 2025.
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Inside State Farm Stadium in Glendale before the memorial service for Charlie Kirk in Sept. 21, 2025.
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Inside State Farm Stadium in Glendale before the memorial service for Charlie Kirk on Sept. 21, 2025.
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Merchandise for sale outside the Charlie Kirk memorial in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025.
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Merchandise for sale outside the Charlie Kirk memorial in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025.
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The crowd inside State Farm Stadium before the funeral of Charlie Kirk on Sept. 21, 2025.
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Outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025, before the funeral of conservative activst Charlie Kirk.
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Outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025, before the funeral of conservative activst Charlie Kirk.
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Outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025, before the funeral of conservative activst Charlie Kirk.
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Outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025, before the funeral of conservative activst Charlie Kirk.
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Outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025, before the funeral of conservative activst Charlie Kirk.
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Outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025, before the funeral of conservative activst Charlie Kirk.
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Outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025, before the funeral of conservative activst Charlie Kirk.
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Outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025, before the funeral of conservative activst Charlie Kirk.
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Outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025, before the funeral of conservative activst Charlie Kirk.
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Outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025, before the funeral of conservative activst Charlie Kirk.
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Outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025, before the funeral of conservative activst Charlie Kirk.
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Outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025, before the funeral of conservative activst Charlie Kirk.
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Outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025, before the funeral of conservative activst Charlie Kirk.
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The crowd lines up for the Charlie Kirk funeral in Glendale on Sepet. 21, 2025.
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Mourners line up for Charlie Kirk's funeral in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025.
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Mourners line up for Charlie Kirk's funeral in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025.
Chelsey Health/KJZZ
Charlie Kirk memorial at ASU
At the White House this week, President Donald Trump said he’s bringing a plane load of people to Kirk’s memorial.
“For Sunday, you know we’re going to have a stadium. And I bet that stadium is going to be pretty packed,” Trump said.
The Governor’s Office said it has no role in authorizing events held at the stadium, and that pay for state troopers working the Kirk memorial will come from Legends Global.
A stadium authority spokesperson says concessions, minus alcohol, will be available at the Kirk memorial. Records show that Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill is a principal of a culinary company with rights to provide stadium food.
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Lucas Miles, pastor and senior director of TPUSA Faith, speaks during a candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
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Turning Point USA Vice President of Field Operations Andrey Sypher speaks during a candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
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Turning Point USA Chief Operating Officer Tyler Bowyer speaks during a candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
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Jack Posobiec speaks during Turning Point USA’s candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
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Jack Posobiec speaks during Turning Point USA’s candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
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Center for Arizona Policy President Peter Gentala speaks during Turning Point USA’s candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
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“MAGA Hulk” Stephen Davis speaks during Turning Point USA’s candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
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Attendees shine their phone flashlights during Turning Point USA’s candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Rob Clements, pastor and director of ASU Catholic Newman Center, speaks at Turning Point USA’s candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
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Attendees stand during Turning Point USA’s candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
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Signs decorate the stage at a candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. COO Tyler Bowyer said the center sign was from one of Turning Point’s first events at ASU.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Ashlee Davis speaks to KJZZ reporter Camryn Sanchez before Turning Point USA’s candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Carson Carpenter speaks to KJZZ reporter Camryn Sanchez before Turning Point USA’s candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Bella Keenan speaks to KJZZ reporter Camryn Sanchez before Turning Point USA’s candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
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Turning Point's Arizona State University chapter holds a vigil event for Charlie Kirk on the Tempe campus Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
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Turning Point USA staffers register voters during a candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
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Turning Point USA staffers and volunteers wore “I am Charlie” shirts during a candlelight vigil for Charlie Kirk at Desert Financial Arena on ASU’s Tempe campus on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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A memorial outside Hansen Mortuary in Phoenix on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, where the motorcade carrying Charlie Kirk's casket went from Phoenix Sky Harbor.
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People visit a memorial for Turning Point USA CEO and Co-Founder Charlie Kirk outside the group’s headquarters in Phoenix on Sept. 11, 2025. Kirk was killed a day earlier during an event at Utah Valley University.
Alexandra Medina/Cronkite News
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Mourners stand with flags across the street from the Phoenix mortuary that received Charlie Kirk's casket on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025.
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A memorial outside Hansen Mortuary in Phoenix on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, where the motorcade carrying Charlie Kirk's casket went from Phoenix Sky Harbor.
Chelsey Heath/KJZZ
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A memorial outside Hansen Mortuary in Phoenix on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, where the motorcade carrying Charlie Kirk's casket went from Phoenix Sky Harbor.
Chelsey Heath/KJZZ
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Mourners gather to honor Charlie Kirk outside the Turning Point USA offices in Phoenix on Sept. 11, 2025.
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Mourners gather to honor Charlie Kirk outside the Turning Point USA offices in Phoenix on Sept. 11, 2025.
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Mourners gather to honor Charlie Kirk outside the Turning Point USA offices in Phoenix on Sept. 11, 2025.
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People visit a memorial for Turning Point USA CEO and Co-Founder Charlie Kirk outside the group’s headquarters in Phoenix on Sept. 11, 2025. Kirk was killed a day earlier during an event at Utah Valley University.
Alexandra Medina/Cronkite News
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Mourners gather to honor Charlie Kirk outside the Turning Point USA offices in Phoenix on Sept. 11, 2025.
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A memorial to Charlie Kirk at the Turning Point USA campus in Phoenix on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025.
Tim Agne/KJZZ
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Charlie Kirk speaking with attendees at the 2025 Student Action Summit at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida, on July 11, 2025.
Gage Skidmore/CC by 2.0
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People pay their respects to Charlie Kirk at a makeshift memorial at the national headquarters of Turning Point USA in Phoenix, Arizona, on Wednesday.
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The Turning Point USA campus in Phoenix on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025.
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Armed Phoenix police officers guard the Turning Point USA campus in Phoenix on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, after the fatal shooting of CEO Charlie Kirk.
Matthew Casey/KJZZ
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Cars parked outside Turning Point USA's Phoenix campus to honor Charlie Kirk on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, after he was shot and killed on Wednesday.
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The Turning Point USA campus in Phoenix on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025.
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Shane Besore, a Charlie Kirk supporter, is emotional outside the Turning Point USA headquarters in Phoenix on Sept. 10, 2025. Kirk, the group’s co-founder, was shot and killed hours earlier at an event in Utah.
Sydney Lovan/Cronkite News
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Charlie Kirk speaking with attendees at the 2025 Chapter Leadership Summit at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida, on July 11, 2025.
Gage Skidmore/CC by 2.0
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Charlie Kirk speaking with attendees at the 2025 Student Action Summit at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida, on July 13, 2025.
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Charlie Kirk speaks with attendees at the 2019 Teen Student Action Summit hosted by Turning Point USA in Washington, D.C.
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Charlie Kirk speaking with attendees at an Arizona for Trump rally at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale on Aug. 23, 2024.
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Charlie Kirk speaking with attendees at the 2024 AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center.
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Charlie Kirk speaks at Turning Point USA's annual event, AmericaFest, on Dec. 19, 2024, at the Phoenix Convention Center.
Sam Dingman/KJZZ
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Turning Point Founder Charlie Kirk and Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance speak with attendees at a Chase the Vote rally in Mesa on Sept. 4, 2024.
Gage Skidmore/CC BY 2.0
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Charlie Kirk speaking with attendees at the 2023 AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix on Dec. 19, 2023.
Gage Skidmore/CC BY 2.0
More Charlie Kirk news
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The overall feeling of Turning Point USA’s annual AmericaFest conference in Phoenix three months after co-founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University was one of determination to carry out his legacy. -
Turning Point USA conference attendees in Phoenix say the organization is back stronger — and resonating with women — following co-founder Charlie Kirk’s assassination. -
The group is called National Ground Game, and they’re calling their event something we can’t say on the radio. -
Looking forward, Erika Kirk says Turning Point’s political arm will focus on keeping Congress in Republican hands and electing JD Vance as the 48th president in 2028. -
State Sen. Warren Petersen, Gilbert Republican and GOP candidate for attorney general, said Charlie Kirk should be publicly recognized by putting his name along a 78-mile stretch of Loop 202. -
Several cities and towns across the Valley will consider requests to officially memorialize conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was killed by a gunman last month. -
The memorial event honoring conservative activist Charlie Kirk was held at State Farm Stadium on Sept. 21, 2025. See KJZZ's coverage from Glendale. -
The Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority owns the stadium in Glendale. An authority spokesperson says event contracts, done by a separate stadium manager, are confidential.
