GLENDALE, Ariz.—The memorial service honoring Charlie Kirk, the influential conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, is scheduled for Sunday, September 21, at State Farm Stadium, the home of the Arizona Cardinals football team. The event, titled “Building a Legacy: Remembering Charlie Kirk,” will begin at 11 a.m. PST, with doors opening to the public at 8 a.m.
Kirk, who was 31 and resided in Scottsdale with his wife Erika and their two children, was executed by an assassin’s bullet on September 10 while addressing students at Utah Valley University in Utah. Authorities have charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with first-degree murder in connection with the incident who is being held without bail.
Turning Point USA, a youth-focused conservative organization Kirk established in 2009 and headquartered in nearby Phoenix, announced that seating at the 73,000-capacity stadium will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. More than 100,000 are expected to attend, so organizers have arranged overflow accommodation at the adjacent Desert Diamond Arena, which seats about 19,000.
Attendees are encouraged to dress in “Sunday best” attire, with red, white or blue colors suggested to reflect American patriotism.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has classified the memorial as a Level 1 Special Event Assessment Rating, the agency’s highest security designation, comparable to that of the Super Bowl or Boston Marathon. Several hundred law enforcement officers will be deployed on the ground and in the air.
Glendale police expect heavy traffic and limited parking around the venues, advising visitors to prepare for extended walks and security waits. Prohibited items at the venue include weapons, explosives, outside food and beverages, strollers, selfie sticks and bags of any kind.
A designated free speech zone has been established outside the stadium to accommodate a small number of anticipated protesters.
Confirmed speakers for the memorial include:
- President Donald J Trump
- Vice President JD Vance
- Erika Kirk, Turning Point USA CEO and Kirk’s widow
- Susie Wiles, White House Chief of Staff
- Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
- Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services
- Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence
- Stephen Miller, White House deputy Chief of Staff
- Donald Trump Jr., friend to the Kirk family
- Sergio Gor, Director of the White House Personnel Office
- Tucker Carlson, Conservative Political Commentator
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is also expected to attend.
Musical performances will include worship led by Christian artists Chris Tomlin, Brandon Lake, Phil Wickham, Kari Jobe Carnes and Cody Carnes, as well as performances by Lee Greenwood and Steve Amerson.
For those unable to attend in person, the service will be livestreamed on Kirk’s Rumble account and through LiveNOW from FOX, a free streaming service available on multiple platforms. Fox News Channel will air special programming beginning at 3 a.m. PST, while ABC News Live will carry the event across its programs and platforms. Broadcast coverage is also planned on FOX and CBS.
Kirk, who grew up in Illinois before making Arizona his home, played a key role in Republican mobilization efforts, including the 2024 presidential campaign that returned Trump to the White House.
Turning Point USA described him in a tribute as “a servant of the Lord” whose life was “a testament to faith, courage, and conviction.” Kirk began in a small garage that evolved into a massive grassroots movement, inspiring millions to champion faith, family and freedom.
“Charlie died doing what he loved: fighting for truth, for faith, for family, and for America,” the tribute stated. “His legacy will endure for generations.”
Author: Mario Lotmore
