ASU plays a large role in contributing to the identity of Tempe, as described by a first-year student, Jace Manus.

“Since ASU has such a big branding, it automatically just shapes or gets its name out there in Tempe. It’s kind of almost fully Tempe,” Manus said.

With the prominent impact of youth culture in Tempe, Manus feels that is why things in Tempe are more up to date or trending because it is all “run by the youth.”

“ASU is very much diverse too. Even though it’s diverse, you can still find people that are similar to you… clubs, organizations, even resources you go to, that’s how students can get together,” Manus said.

Students make up the majority of customers of local businesses in Tempe. This can come with advantages such as increased revenue from the influx of students or challenges such as seasonal fluctuations in sales. Although, to Nicholas Streich, the General Manager of Rusty Taco in Tempe, students are what drive the business.

Since their opening in 2021, they have been catering towards ASU students. Even when business is slow during breaks and the summer, Streich knows the school year will compensate for those lost sales.

“We definitely try to have a lot of influence with the students,” Streich said.

Streich said that not only do they experience significant foot traffic on game days and tailgates, but they also strive to actively engage with the community. Rusty Taco has participated in Philanthropy events for greek housing and catered events for ASU clubs such as the women’s soccer club.

“That’s one of my biggest initiatives here, is to engage with the community and engage with the school and its clubs and all the different possible activations we can have here,” Streich said.

According to Corey Woods, the Mayor of Tempe, not only is the economic impact from ASU to Tempe “immeasurable,” but there is a certain atmosphere that the students bring.

“In terms of the overall energy and vibe that the university creates when it’s fully in session, I think it is one that can’t be beat,” Mayor Woods said.

The relationship between the Tempe City Government and ASU is constantly growing through quarterly meetings with Mayor Woods, his city manager, and ASU President Michael Crowe and members of his senior leadership team. They discuss the direction of the community and what’s happening not only in the city but the upcoming initiatives within the university.

“Our fortunes are intertwined, and so we have to continue to work together…I think the reason why you see both ASU and the city of Tempe thriving and flourishing is because we both have very innovative, proactive forward-looking visions,” Mayor Woods said.  

Mayor Woods said the feedback from Tempe residents about ASU’s impact is “overwhelmingly positive,” with many alumni sending their children to ASU to continue the tradition of higher education.

“When you live in a community where your local university, which at this point it’s a global university, when you think about what they’ve been able to accomplish and what our residents are aware of on what they’ve been able to accomplish, I think that instills our folks with a very deep sense of pride,” Mayor Woods said.