Whenever and wherever the nation's eyes focus on Tempe for the Oct. 13 presidential debate, ASU's logo will be waiting.
In addition to signage around campus, including Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium and Wells Fargo Arena, the University plans to sell its image in any way it can.
ASU officials are spending $11,250 on T-shirts for the near 1,000 media expected for the debate.
Exactly 2,500 shirts at $4.50 each have been purchased to hand out to media.
Media will receive ASU shirts and lanyards that hold credentials. They will also receive press kits, gift bags and a list of ASU faculty experts for resources.
Folders are the only purchase made by the University for the media kits. Prisma Graphics and the City of Tempe contributed to the kits. ASU spokeswoman Nancy Neff and Virgil Renzulli, the ASU Presidential Debate Steering Committee chairman, said they didn't know the total amount spent for the media kits.
Media kits will also include a brochure about ASU; a reporter's notebook; ASU, Tempe and Phoenix fact sheets; a campus map; a Crow biography; information about Gammage; a list of sponsors; a list of restaurants; a welcome postcard from the City of Tempe including the phone number of a concierge and a welcome letter from Crow.
ASU banners will hang inside and outside the Wells Fargo Arena and inside the media tent, which will likely be shown in the background of media broadcasts during the debate, Renzulli said.
ASU President Michael Crow said the debate is a chance to show what the University has to offer.
"This will be a watermark for maturation of the University and the maturation of the state," Crow said of the debate. "They don't do these at marginal institutions, they only do these at well-established institutions."
Although ASU administration isn't doing anything in particular to encourage students to wear ASU logos the day of the debate, Renzulli said officials hope ASU students will do so.
"It seemed like every student on campus was wearing a University of Miami T-shirt," said Neil Giuliano, ASU director of community relations and development, who attended the University of Miami debate in preparation for Oct. 13.
The University of Miami set up a logo shop during the debate for student sales.
Renzulli said debate T-shirts for the public might be sold through the ASU Bookstore.
Undergraduate Student Government is planning to encourage students to wear maroon and gold the week and day of the debate through e-mails and posters.
"This is such good publicity," said USG president Sophie O'Keefe- Zelman. "Even for the cost to the University, the amount of publicity is priceless. I understand why the University wants to take full advantage of that."
Reach the reporter at katherine.ruark@asu.edu.
