Behind the Scenes: The ASU 365 Community Union Crew Powering Every Sun Devil Production
By Talia Williams
“Lights, camera, action!” It’s the final cue before everything comes to life. But without the technicians working behind the scenes, the show would never begin at all.
From managing audio feeds to coordinating live broadcasts, the production crew at ASU 365 Community Union plays a critical role in bringing events to life at Mountain America Stadium and Desert Financial Arena. Whether it’s a football game, a movie on the field or one of ASU’s massive graduation celebrations, the team ensures every detail runs seamlessly — often without the audience ever noticing the work happening behind the curtain.
Led by Technical Director Derrik Hester, the 17-member crew brings together nearly 120 years of combined experience. Their work stretches far beyond simple audio and visual management. They are problem-solvers, technicians, coordinators and mentors who keep some of the university’s largest productions operating smoothly.
“I like that we hire a mix of students and professionals because they are constantly learning from each other,” said Justyn Walker, production coordinator at ASU 365 Community Union. “They can grow to be well-rounded and equipped production people.”
That collaborative approach has helped the team transform stadium spaces and execute major university events, including ASU’s spring and fall commencement ceremonies. This spring, ASU celebrated a record-breaking graduating class of 22,631 students, making the pressure behind production greater than ever before.
Three key elements stand out as the key to this team’s success: their hands-on training environment, the strong relationships that support quick problem-solving and the positive energy that keeps everyone motivated during high-pressure productions.
High above the field in the Press tower, a control room serves as the center of all production activity. Servers line the walls; headsets are neatly organized and equipment hums as the crew prepares for long hours of continuous work. Small details, from cooling fans to carefully arranged workstations, reflect the coordination and focus required to keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes.
“Reminder, graduation is the blue channel,” Hester told the crew before preparations officially began, indicating on the audio console where the ceremony feed was patched.
While ASU 365 Community Union typically serves as the primary production staff for most events, commencement takes place on a much larger scale. For these ceremonies, the ASU 365 team collaborates with several partners, including Phoenix-based AV company Clearwing, which oversees audio and lighting alongside Sound Image. This collaboration allows newer ASU 365 crew members to work alongside experienced industry professionals during one of the university’s most complex and demanding productions.
Every minute counts when you are putting on the biggest university event of the year and the work kicks off with a meeting on the track three hours before commencement.
“Remember, for today, our priorities are to oversee audio for concessions, gates and restrooms,” Hester reminded the crew before they headed onto Frank Kush Field.
One of the first responsibilities involved setting up assisted listening devices for guests attending the ceremony. Hester, Aaron from Sound Image and the crew carefully installed infrared transmitters along the northwest side of the field track to ensure every guest could clearly hear the ceremony and their graduate’s name being called.
“Most people never see the work that goes into these systems, and that’s exactly the point. Our goal is to make sure every guest can clearly hear every speech, every announcement and, most importantly, every graduate’s name as it’s called,” Hester explained. “Knowing that we helped make that moment accessible for every family is something our team takes a lot of pride in.”
Though it may seem like a small detail, the setup required nearly 100 feet of cabling for each transmitter and careful coordination to avoid technical issues. Even plugging one cord into the wrong port could create major problems. Still, the crew’s communication and years of shared experience kept the process running efficiently.
Throughout the day, team members moved between club spaces and the stadium concourses preparing televisions for the live graduation broadcast. Using the stadium’s TriplePlay A/V system, every television needed to be manually assigned to the graduation feed — known internally as the “Mountain America Stadium Channel” — so screens across the venue would automatically display the ceremony.
The process became another example of the team’s hands-on learning environment. Throughout it all, the atmosphere remained upbeat and collaborative.
“My favorite part about working at 365 is having a boss like Derrik because he is very patient and teaches us step by step so that we have the confidence to independently run all the A/V in the stadium,” said Izzy, an ASU 365 Community Union part-time technician.
“When people walk into Mountain America Stadium, they’re experiencing more than a venue — they’re experiencing Arizona State University. My team understands that this space is among the university’s most public-facing stages, and we take tremendous pride in being its caretakers,” Hester nobly added.
“What makes me most proud is not just the productions we deliver, but the people we’re developing along the way. I view my role as an educator. These venues are our classroom, and every event is an opportunity for our team to learn, grow and master their craft. We’ve built a team culture where experienced professionals and student staff learn alongside one another, developing the skills, confidence and judgment needed to succeed in this industry,” Hester stated.
“As our capabilities expand, so does our impact. Every event becomes an opportunity to showcase the excellence of ASU while giving emerging professionals the experience and mentorship they need to become leaders in our industry."
While graduation ceremonies may be among the team’s most visible responsibilities, they represent only a fraction of the work the ASU 365 production crew handles year-round. From athletic events to private functions throughout the stadium club spaces, the team is responsible for creating the atmosphere audiences experience at nearly every event.
Their success is measured by something most guests never think about: the lights turn on, the sound carries throughout the stadium and the production unfolds flawlessly. Behind every seamless event is a crew making sure the show always goes on.
