Purple Power Play on Poyntz was created in 1988 by a group of four community volunteers to welcome students back to Downtown Manhattan and generate excitement for a less than successful K-State football team.  The first event was a 2-day event held before the first home football game and featured a main stage on a flat bed trailer at 3rd and Poyntz in front of Manhattan Town Center and had less than 200 attendees.  In 1999, Purple Power Play on Poyntz was incorporated as a non-for-profit organization. 

Today, Purple Power Play on Poyntz still welcomes students, alumni and the entire community to Downtown Manhattan prior to the first home Kansas State Wildcat football game.  Purple Power Play on Poyntz has become one of the largest events in Northeast Kansas with over 20,000 people attending the event over the two days.  The event has grown to include an inflatable carnival, a pyrotechnics display, and a diverse group of more than 50 vendors that line Poyntz Avenue.  Purple Power Play on Poyntz continues to grow each year and will continue to be a Manhattan tradition for years to come.