GLENDALE, AZ (AZFamily) — Thursday’s wet weather didn’t dampen the spirits of tens of thousands of fans making their way to State Farm Stadium in Glendale before the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
Ole Miss and Miami fans showed up to the parking lot as early as 10:30 a.m. on Thursday to party and tailgate before the big game.
One group was a collection of Valley locals who have been coming to the Fiesta Bowl every year for the past 25 years. They said it’s only the second or third time it’s rained for them.
“I’m from Florida. We know what hurricanes feel like. So, thing is, we don’t care. We’ll take whatever weather you want to bring,” said one Miami fan. “Whatever wind, hail, cold, storm, we’re ready to go.”
“We got here at 10:30. We had to wait until 11:30. And then we came in and we set up. And I came back, had to put this (poncho) on. I made my drink in the cold,” said an Ole Miss fan.
The Fiesta Sports Foundation said there will be no weather precautions for tailgates, but State Farm Stadium’s roof will be closed for the game.
The winner of the Fiesta Bowl advances to the College Football Playoff Championship.
Glendale Police say evening rush-hour traffic, combined with typical game day closures, will make getting to the venue slow if fans delay.
“Plan ahead and plan to get here early,” Glendale Officer Moroni Mendez said.
Officials said there will be an increased law enforcement presence, including SWAT, drones, undercover officers, bike officers and other resources to help maintain safety and traffic flow.
“All sorts of different resources are going to be put in place to make sure everyone is safe for this event,” Officer Mendez said.
Fans should note several key restrictions and closures:
- Umbrellas: If you bring an umbrella, it must be shorter than 12 inches.
- Road closures: Maryland Avenue will be shut down from 95th Avenue to 91st Avenue. There will be typical event closures in the area.
- Clear-bag policy: The stadium enforces a clear-bag policy, and prohibited items are also listed on the stadium’s website.
Police also reminded fans to drink responsibly, whether watching from the stands or at local restaurants and bars, including those in the Westgate Entertainment District. There will be “absolutely no tolerance” for behavior that violates stadium policies, officials said.
Transportation options, parking details and the full list of prohibited items and bag dimensions are available on the State Farm Stadium website. Fans with questions were urged to consult the stadium site and arrive well before kickoff to avoid delays.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Copyright 2026 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.
