Arizona's annual tradition every Friday before home UA football games at Main Gate Square, "Bear Down Fridays," will have an abbreviated schedule for the highly anticipated 2024 season.ย
Bear Down Fridays will be sized down to three weeks this season instead of the night before every Arizona home game. The three Bear Down Fridays are scheduled for Oct. 4, Oct. 18 and Oct. 25. Arizona's season-opening game against New Mexico will not have a Bear Down Friday pep rally.ย
The first Bear Down Friday is before the Wildcats' Big 12 home opener against Texas Tech; the second one is for the homecoming matchup against Colorado, then the following week against West Virginia for family weekend.ย
Bear Down Fridays have been held at Main Gate Square on University Boulevard between Park Avenue and Euclid Avenue in recent decades. From 4-7 p.m., vendors, other local businesses and several radio stations have tents and tables outside of establishments and stores at Main Gate Square.
The pep rally, featuring the Pride of Arizona marching band, cheerleaders, the UA pom team and Wilbur and Wilma Wildcat, started at 6 p.m. at a stage set up on Tyndall Avenue. The pep rally had notable guest speakers, including former Arizona football coaches and players, athletic directors and other UA athletics head coaches.ย
No. 21 Arizona kicks off the 2024 season against New Mexico at Arizona Stadium on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
