Arizona Globe journalist Christy Kelly is reporting live from State Farm Stadium (home of the Arizona Cardinals) in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix, for an unprecedented memorial celebrating the life of slain conservative icon and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. Kelly arrived on scene at 4 a.m. to find roads already blocked off and crowds forming in anticipation of the day’s events. Before dawn, thousands already lined the streets surrounding the stadium for what is shaping up to be one of the largest memorial gatherings in Arizona history. It’s expected that attendance will far exceed the stadium’s 73,000 maximum capacity, with some estimates topping 100,000.

Kirk, 31, was assassinated by a lone gunman on September 10, 2025, while speaking to a large group of students on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Kirk was the founder and driving force behind Turning Point USA, and its political action group, Turning Point Action. His legacy includes a renaissance of conservatism among America’s youth, particularly among college and high school students. He was also a deeply religious man, and his faith was integral to his popularity and his message. While there have been many memorial events since his death, today’s event may mark the most historical of its kind, one of the few in history where both the President and Vice-President will attend and speak.

By sunrise, media members had gathered in a separate area to be screened and escorted into the stadium. There are reports that press credential requests for the memorial had exceeded even those for the Super Bowl, underscoring Kirk’s global reach and influence. Security has been intense, with law enforcement, private security, and federal agencies coordinating to maintain order and safety for the high-profile event.

Among those spotted in attendance were former State Senator and current Turning Point USA employee Justine Wadsack, State Senator Joseph Chaplik, and former Senator Anthony Kern — all reflecting Kirk’s deep ties to Arizona politics and grassroots organizing.